ISLAMABAD: The Federal government on Thursday decided to highlight importance of constitutional democracy, rule of law and supremacy of parliament through the national curriculum.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif directed Higher Education Commission to make necessary changes in curriculum from primary to Masters.

HEC was directed to make amendments in compulsory subjects of Pakistan Studies, English and Urdu of all primary, middle and secondary schools as well as all colleges and universities after consultation and approval of the provincial governments.

“The amendments shall include chapters aimed at promoting the appreciation of the necessity of constitutional democracy for Pakistan’s progress and identity; deepen the understanding of the merits of the constitutional democratic process and pluralism in international and national context.

It will strengthen the knowledge base of students to comprehensively counter the common misunderstandings surrounding the subject, and enhance critical appreciation of modes of accountability within the constitutional process like judicial oversight, media, freedom of speech, right to information, elections etc,” says a press note issued by PM secretariat.

A spokesman for the prime minister said that to achieve these objectives, HEC has been directed to coordinate with academics, universities and text book publishers to develop, within two months, grade-appropriate material, including fables, stories, essays, speeches, teaching guides, teacher training material, activities, extra-curricular activities etc.

However educationists contended that after the passage of 18th amendment under which education has been devolved to provinces, HEC has no role to play in school education at provincial level.

“Overall it’s a good initiative. But HEC has no knowledge and background about school education

so it cannot make amendments to school curriculum,” said a senior officer at Curriculum Wing of Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2014