The Punjab Education Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority convened the inaugural meeting of its Curriculum Advisory Committee at its headquarters in Lahore, marking a significant step towards reforming the primary education system in Punjab. The meeting was held in alignment with the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Minister for Education to transform classroom learning by shifting from rote memorisation to meaningful, concept-based education.
The session was chaired by Nausheen Adnan, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Vice Chairperson of PECTAA. Muhammad Musa Ali Bukhari, Chief Executive Officer of PECTAA, served as the convener. A keynote presentation outlining the current curriculum landscape and the proposed reform framework was delivered by Dr. Zubda Zia ur Rehman, establishing the foundation for the committee’s deliberations.
The reform initiative will initially focus on Grades 1 to 5, the foundational years of learning. The committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of existing Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) to reduce their volume, eliminate redundancies, and reframe them around core conceptual competencies. The aim is to move beyond content-heavy instruction towards a curriculum that nurtures critical thinking, understanding, and adaptability among students.
A diverse group of leading educationists, policymakers, and practitioners participated in the meeting, including representatives from University of Education Lahore, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Beaconhouse School System, Society for the Advancement of Education, and Pakistan Institute of Education. International and national experts also joined virtually from organizations such as Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and The Citizens Foundation.
Punjab’s existing primary curriculum has long faced criticism for its excessive volume and emphasis on rote learning, limiting teachers’ ability to focus on conceptual understanding and inquiry-based learning. This reform seeks to address these challenges by creating a streamlined, concept-driven curriculum aligned with international best practices.
Through this initiative, PECTAA aims to provide teachers with greater flexibility and support to deliver effective instruction, while enabling students to develop deeper understanding and essential learning skills.
The Curriculum Advisory Committee will continue its work through a series of structured sessions and subject-specific sub-committees. A revised curriculum framework for Grades 1-5 is expected to be finalized and submitted to the School Education Department for approval ahead of the upcoming academic year.