The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dreamt of implementing a Single National  Curriculum across the country when it came into power after the 2018 general elections.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood, Parliamentary Secretary Ms. Wajiha Akram, Secretary Education Dr. Sajid Yoosufani, Joint Educational Advisor Mr. Muhammad Rafique Tahir and Assistant Educational Advisor Suhail Bin Aziz.

The prime minister was apprised that under the phase-I, Single National Curriculum for class 1 to 5 had been developed and its implementation would be completed by March 2021.

The phase-II Single National Curriculum for class 6 to 8 would be ready by March 2021 and implemented by March 2022, while the phase-III curriculum for class 9 to 12 would be ready by March 2022 and enforced by March 2023.

The prime minister was told that among extensive stakeholders’ consultations, four-day workshops were conducted in all the provinces in which more than 400 experts participated, including members of the Ittehad Tanzeem-ul-Madaris.

The meeting was informed that the nation’s school education system and curriculum were divided into three streams, private education largely English medium, foreign certification, state schools (largely Urdu medium, including madressahs and Dars-i-Nizami).

The meeting was told that a system of winners (the elite class) and losers (the rest) existed in the country and that the entire socio-economic system supported the elite class.

The prime minister was informed that there was a difference of mindsets in the country and different curriculums were being implemented that caused a fractured national psyche.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the aim behind enforcement of Single National Curriculum was to equip the young generation to cope with challenges of the technological age and to instil in them social values that highlighted a distinct national character.

The prime minister emphasised that the guidance of Holy Quran, teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), guidelines of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal should be made part of the curriculum. He also highlighted that the curriculum should cater to the needs of modern times.

The meeting was told that the present class-based education system had not only divided the educational institutions, education standard, teachers and students, but it had also created a system based on the whole social and economic structure, which was serving the interests of a particular class. The system was creating a diverging mind-set in society, which had caused a divided national consciousness and psyche.

The meeting was informed that the present government after coming into power formed the National Curriculum Council, comprising representatives from all the federating unites, besides famous personalities from the private sector and religious seminaries.

It was briefed that implementation of the Single National Curriculum for educational institutions and its evaluation had remained one of the important elements of the PTI’s election manifesto. The rationale behind the decision was to eliminate the disparity between curriculum, facilities, medium of instruction, teachers and students performance, which had resulted into differing mindsets causing a fractured national psyche.