The issue of education has forever remained a sensitive and core topic in Pakistan. The education system of Pakistan was once segregated for decades, with stark differences between public and private and religious madrassah systems. In order to fill this gap and acquire parity the government of Pakistan launched the Single National Curriculum (SNC).
Although the very intention of the SNC is good, as all the children will be provided equal opportunities for education with no discrimination, it has also created intense debate. Is it really doing any good for the future of Pakistan or creating more issues? Let’s consider both perspectives.
What is the Single National Curriculum (SNC)?
Single National Curriculum is a scheme of the Government of Pakistan to apply one educational system for all the students from Grade 1 to Grade 12. The scheme has the objective of making all the children, regardless of whether they are in a government school, private school, or madrassah, learn the same series of core subjects under Urdu, English, Mathematics, Science, Islamiat, and Social Studies.
The answer is to reduce inequality of access to and achievement in education — something well within the ability of the Taleem Foundation which advocates quality and affordable education for all.
The Potential Benefit of the SNC
Educational Equitability
With a single nationwide curriculum students of all alike can use the same study materials bringing opportunities for underprivileged groups to see a level playing field in school and workplace.
Social Cohesion
A single curriculum can help push towards harmony and reduce social inequality, build a common sense of national awareness and identity among school children from different regions and backgrounds.
Simplified Governance
It becomes easier for the government to control, organize, and enhance the education system throughout the country.
Inclusiveness of Madrassahs
By integrating madrassahs into formal education through SNC more modern subjects will be imparted to the students enhancing their chances.
The SNC’s Challenges and Criticisms
Even though certainly well-meaning, the SNC has faced some practical as well as ideological challenges:
Quality and Depth of Content
It has been faulted for its simplification of challenging subject areas so that it would be difficult for pupils to keep pace with international standards, especially in science and technology.
Resistance by Private Schools
Most private schools that are well known for imparting high-level curricula (like Cambridge or IB) consider SNC a step backward and would even reduce the quality of education that they offer.
Inconsistency in Religious Content
The high level of religious material in the SNC, especially in non-religious courses, has challenged the potential impacts on critical thinking and intellectual diversity.
Challenges in Implementation
The implementation of a standard curriculum in a nation as multicultural as Pakistan is not an easy feat. Differences in infrastructure training of teachers and equipment across provinces yield uneven implementation.
Disregarding Regional Languages and Cultures
The SNC has been criticized as insufficient to allow adequate space for regional languages, histories, and cultural narratives, and the potential exclusion of some ethnic groups.
A Balanced Way Forward
At the Taleem Foundation, we believe that a Single National Curriculum can vanquish education inequality, but it should be well-introduced. There should be an emphasis on:
- Periodic updating of the curriculum so that it remains as good as the best in the world
- Curricula responsive and attuned to the linguistic cultural and geographical diversity of Pakistan
- Effective teacher training workshops to implement the curriculum
- Autonomy for higher education to be scholastically competitive while being national goals responsive
- Regular interaction with the education stakeholders to address problems and strengthen policies
Final Thoughts
A single national curriculum is a drastic and ambitious step towards educational equality in Pakistan. On one hand, it has the potential to mend fissures of the past, but on the other, it may even lead to oversimplification and the erasure of scholarly diversity unless handled well.
Pakistan needs not just one curriculum but a comprehensive inclusive and forward-thinking education policy that prepares its youth for a changing world yet preserves national values for real change.
As Taleem Foundation we’re committed to implementing changes that are designed to bridge the gap between quality and equality in education — because all of Pakistan’s children are not only entitled to the same textbooks but the same opportunity.
