LAHORE, Dec 12: Islamiat and Social studies are being excluded from primary course from 2007, it is learnt.

Sources in the Federal Education Department told Dawn that Science was also being excluded from Class I to III in the Punjab. Islamiat and Social Studies will be included from Class VI, they added.

The rationale to dispense with these subjects is said to be “unburdening” primary class students.

The sources said the proposal in this regard would be finalized after incorporating input of all provincial education departments in a meeting in Peshawar next month.

“The decision, if taken, will help students concentrate on their studies as it has been the case worldwide where only mathematics and language courses are taught at primary level,” a senior officer of the Punjab Education Department said.

It is pertinent to mention that English, Urdu, Mathematics and Science are being taught from Class I to III in the Punjab, and Islamiat and the Pakistan Studies besides these four from Class IV and V across the country.

According to the provincial Curriculum Research and Development Centre officials, English, Urdu and Mathematics have been taught from Class I to III in Sindh, Balochishtan and the NWFP under the integrated curriculum since 1995. Under an integrated curriculum, a subject has basic contents of other subjects. Urdu in Class I to III has basic contents of Science, Social Studies and Islamiat.

The Punjab, they said, did not agree with the federal curriculum wing then, suggesting that Science should be taught as a separate subject.

It may, however, be mentioned that there is another proposal of excluding the Pakistan Studies and History from the intermediate syllabus after upgradation of them at the secondary school certificate level (matriculation) from 2007.

The officials are of the view that both the subjects at intermediate level are easier than those at SSC level. Besides the subjects at both levels have repetition of contents, they say.