National education plan

Federal cabinet has approved an ambitious and much awaited National Education Plan 2020. It encompasses phase-wise introduction of uniforms curriculum in schools and seminaries. New syllabus for primary classes will be taught from the upcoming academic session after the approved by the National Curriculum Council. The new syllabus for class VI to Viii shall be introduced in 2021.

Promotion of quality education in schools and colleges was entirely a provincial subject till 2010 and higher education was also devolved to federating units under 18th Amendment. Introduction of uniform curriculum in different classes of schools ‘education is worth appreciation but its contents should be compatible with the needs of time. It should not undo the reforms in Elementary and Secondary Education which were implemented by the previous PTI government in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. It merits mention that Usman Buzdar government in Punjab has excluded teaching of English from the curriculum of Primary classes. Teaching of English in government schools from the grassroots level certainly improves the understanding of students in this important subject; develop their writing skills that give edge in understanding and assimilating contemporary disciplines of higher education for completing course work and completing quality research. From 1990 and onwards the subject matter in English Textbooks for schools and colleges has been greatly curtailed, which needs expansion, enrichment and refinement by hardworking, dedicated and intelligent authors and subject specialists.