LAHORE: The government has removed the condition of no objection certificate (NOC) for supplementary reading material under the Single National Curriculum (SNC).

The ministry of federal education and professional training issued a notification stating, “The Single National Curriculum prescribes minimum standards to be followed and does not limit any textbook to the prescribed Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) only. Hence, publishers may add and schools may teach additional subjects or material as per their requirement after necessary approvals.”

It further states, “The ministry does not require NOC for supplementary reading material. However, curriculum authorities of provinces may require NOC as per their rules.”

On Sept 30, a meeting of private publishers, including Oxford and Cambridge, was held at Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) office. The meeting discussed implementation of the SNC in public and private schools.

The participants include PCTB Managing Director Dr Farooq Manzor, Oxford Press MD Arshad Saeed Husain, Convener Private Higher Education Institutions Imran Masood, Director Curriculum Aamir Riaz and Private Publishers Association President Fawaz Niaz.

Mr Niaz said the study material of the UK-based publishers was not aligned to the SNC but it was given NOC.

Oxford MD Mr Husain told Dawn that all private schools were implementing the SNC and these SLOs were additional study material. PCTB MD Mr Manzoor was not available for comments after repeated attempts on his cell phone.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2021