Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: For the first time, the National Curriculum Council (NCC) of Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has decided to include topics on constitutional and democratic affairs in curriculum, Daily Times has learnt.

According to details, the ministry has decided to include new books containing the study of the democratic and constitutional affairs in the curriculum. They will be taught in all national educational institutions.

An official of the ministry said that democratic and constitutional affairs would be made part of curriculum from primary to intermediate. He said that the NCC was also considering following the pattern of A and O level educational system.

The official said that the pattern of the book, however, would be determined in accordance with seniority of the classes, adding that the content of the junior grades would be easier than senior classes.

Sources in the ministry said that besides the NCC, eight subject specialist committees were taken on board to finalise the curricula. Each committee comprised 10 members who belonged to various sectors of the education.

Moreover, the official said that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had also been consulted to get its recommendations for the purpose. The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) was going to implement new curricula at all institutions in the respective classes.

“After he assumed his office in 2013, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman has made some major changes in the ministry, including revision of National Education Policy 2009, inception of National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy 2015. This was done to cater to the needs of our industrial sector by adding value to human capital through imparting requisite training skills and formulation of National Curriculum Council (NCC) to ensure minimum national standards in education with membership from all provinces,” the official said.

“The minister has been saying that soon the NCC will revive contemporary curriculum in the educational institutions,” the official said.

Finally, the ministry has now concluded the work on curricula of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from class 1 to 5. According to the ministry, the development has been finalised by a working group of education specialists, curriculum experts, teachers and government officials under the auspices of the ministry.

It added that in the amended parts, special focus was on ethical values, healthand hygiene, civil conduct, global citizenship, tolerance and respect for diversity.

However, according sources, the ministry has not notified the revived draft of the curricula. After the notification, the official said, the process for textbook preparation would be started and new textbooks would be published in accordance with the directives.

Last month, the minister had launched Curriculum for Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP). The Ministry of Federal Education had developed the programme in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA.

The curriculum under ALP offers complete primary education up-to class 5 to out-of-school children in short time of less than three years (32 months). The programme particularly caters to those children who have crossed the primary school going age and have missed their early years of schooling due to poor socio-economic backgrounds, religious and ethnic compulsions, poor results, physical or mental challenges.