ISLAMABAD: Six to eight graders of Islamabad schools will have new books based on new syllabus from this academic session to be started from Aug 1.

However, sources said that printing of English book of class eight could face delay as its No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is yet to be issued by National Curriculum Council (NCC).

However, an official of education ministry told Dawn that NOC of English for class eight will be issued in next couple of days.

Sources said that the NOC for Islamiat also faced delay, however, it has been issued and now Islamiat books are being printed.

“Yes, there was an issue with Islamiat and English. We have issued NOC of Islamiat and English for six and seven. Hopefully, in next two days, the NOC for class eight will also be issued,” said an official of the education ministry.

NOC for printing of Class VIII English book has yet to be issued by Curriculum Council

He said that process to supply books except for Islamiat and English has been started and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has received many titles of books so far.

“The FDE has been receiving loaded trucks of books on daily basis,” the official said and added that ministry is hopeful that during first week of August, the schools will receive all titles of books. Previous PTI government had introduced Single National Curriculum (SNC) for class one to eight.

Last year, the SNC was introduced from class one to five and this year the government is going to introduce it from class six to eight.

However, the federal government had decided that the new syllabus from class six to eight will not be called SNC rather it will be called as National Curriculum of Pakistan (NCP).

“The National Curriculum of Pakistan (NCP) is the new name of the curriculum reforms,” Federal Education Minster Rana Tanveer Hussain said recently.

Addressing a workshop in Islamabad, the minister had said “the word ‘single’ caused confusion and excluded the diversity education that is an asset to our country’s rich heritage. We are now ready for getting back on track.”

Sources in education ministry said that NCP based books will be introduced in Islamabad’s schools with mention of NCP while in KP the same books will be available with mention on their cover page as SNC.

Whereas, the sources said that the new books based on NCP/SNC will also be introduced in Gilgit-Baltistan this year.

The sources said that AJK and Balochistan have introduced SNC based book this year and from next year they will introduce the said books for grade five to eight as well.

Asked about Punjab and Sindh, the source said that since there was no cabinet intact in Punjab due to tussle between PTI and PML-N from April to July, that’s why a decision was not taken by Punjab for introducing new syllabus from six to eight.

“Now, from next academic session, they [Punjab] will introduce the new syllabus and books for class six to eight. While, last year they had already introduced SNC based books from one to five,” said an official of education ministry.

The official said Sindh had already refused to adopt SNC even at primary level by stating that their own syllabus is updated and well designed while, they were also saying that after 18th constitutional amendment, preparation of syllabus is a provincial subject.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2022