According to the report, the Sindh Government has finally approved books under the Single National Curriculum (SNC). The approved books will be taught in all public and private schools of Sindh.
Last year, in an SNC Plan meeting, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, asked for clarification regarding the curriculum. Finally, this year, the books have been finalized to be taught in the upcoming academic year.
As per local media reports, it has been stated that Arabic language books will also be introduced and taught as a compulsory subject in the sixth grade.
Read more: Teaching Arabic made compulsory in educational institutions across Islamabad
SNC was introduced by the Ministry of Federal Education in order to promote a uniform structure of education within the country, so that students may have a fair and equal opportunity to receive a quality education.
The Ministry mandated that the SNC plan be implemented in phases. The first phase centers on the primary classes from grades 1- till V and is to be implemented this year. The second phase will be introduced in March of next year and will focus on a uniform curriculum and textbooks for grades VI-VIII. The third and final phase be for the secondary classes and will be implemented in March 2023.
Read more: Single National Curriculum set to be introduced in primary classes
Since the first phase requires the development of books according to the uniformed curriculum and is set to be launched in March 2021; the provinces were requested to publish books related to the new curriculum.
Earlier this year, the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) notified the implementation of SNC.
“The competent authority, Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board, Lahore, hereby notified the SNC for grades Pre I – V and Model Textbooks of Education Reforms and Textbook Development Wing, Schools Education Department developed the Federal Government for implementation in all streams of education (Public, Private and Deeni Madaris) in Punjab for the forthcoming academic session 2021-22 and onwards,” read the notification.
Sindh has just recently only approved the books. The publication and distribution of the approved books are yet to be done which will take a lot of time, whereas the SNC plan is set to be implemented across the country from March 2021.
In October 2020, the provinces were requested by the Ministry of Education to publish books related to the new curriculum. However, instead of making preparations for the new curriculum under SNC, the Sindh government began working on a new curriculum to be introduced at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
SNC is an important step towards bringing uniformity in the education sector of Pakistan. To ensure its success, it is imperative that all provinces be on the same page.