LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to make major changes in the curriculum up to the primary level and abolish the rote system.
In order to align the education system in Punjab with modern requirements, a major change has been decided in the primary level curriculum, under which students will be removed from the rote system and given conceptual and understanding-based education.
The Punjab Education Curriculum Training and Assessment Authority has initiated curriculum reforms in this regard, under which the curriculum from first to fifth grade is being reviewed. For this purpose, the first meeting of the Curriculum Advisory Committee has been held, in which a detailed review of the current educational structure has been conducted.
According to officials, in the initial phase, the learning objectives for students will be rearranged so that unnecessary content can be reduced, repetition can be eliminated, and the curriculum can be adapted to basic concepts.
The authority says that the new curriculum will promote critical thinking, better understanding, and practical skills in students, while teachers will also be provided with better teaching opportunities and facilities.
According to experts, the excessive content in the current curriculum and the reliance on the rote system have affected the quality of education, but new reforms will pave the way for providing modern and purposeful education to students.
Federal Government approves new curriculum for schools
The federal government has, in principle, approved a new education plan under the national curriculum.
The draft was approved by a technical committee on Tuesday. According to officials, these changes are being made especially for students from nursery to second grade, who are put under a heavy burden at the beginning of their educational journey.
Federal Education Secretary Nadeem Mehboob said that the revised plan will be finalized after further consultation and then implemented.
He said that a survey conducted by the federal and provincial governments showed that children in the early grades are facing difficulties due to the pressure of the current system.
The government also plans to reintroduce civic education in a new way through the subject of social studies. According to officials, the new curriculum will also include topics such as life safety skills, climate change, and financial awareness.
The Ministry of Education wants the new curriculum to be implemented from the next academic year. According to officials, the federal government and all provinces agree on the proposed plan.
The draft was discussed in the third meeting of the Technical Committee, which was attended by representatives from Islamabad, the provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
