Private schools averse to idea of uniform curriculum

ISLAMABAD: Private schools on Wednesday expressed reservations over the idea of introducing a uniform curriculum at the first meeting of the National Curriculum Council (NCC), which was not attended by representative from Sindh.

During the meeting, the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood assured religious leaders and other stakeholders of taking them into full confidence before implementing a change in curricula.

The meeting, chaired by Mehmood, was attended by Punjab Education Minister Murad Ras, Khyber Pakhtunkwa (K-P) education secretary Ziaullah Bangash, renowned religious scholar Mufti Munibur Rehman and representatives of private schools.

The meeting’s top agenda was introduction of a uniform system of education throughout the country and abolishment of various educational systems currently in place. Addressing the participants Shafqat Mehmood said the literacy rate in the country has dropped to 58 per cent against 60 percent in the past.

He said private, public and Madrassa systems have different curricula. Different type of curriculum had divided the thoughts of the nation, he said, adding that only solution for ‘One Nation’ concept was a uniform education system.

Elaborating the injustice created due to classification of curricula, the minister said the elite class has been successful in achieving high posts as they get education in expensive private schools. While, on the other hand, those who had been studying in public sector schools lagged far behind.

“We will introduce Single National Certification System like other developed countries in the next five to seven years. The issues identified by the representatives in the meeting would be resolved in consultation with all stakeholders.

“The government would make sure to complete the task of uniform education system in the country till the end of this year,” he added

Private school representative Nasir Qasuri expressed reservations over the proposal for introducing uniform curriculum and said education arrangement in the government schools was extremely weak. International schools are permitted throughout the world, he added.

Punjab Education Minister Murad Ras said it appears that the public sector has been deliberately destroyed to make way for private schools. “We need to have a system for teacher training,” he said, adding that teachers are being given professional licenses in Punjab which would ensure improvement.

He said countries in which English was used as a medium of instruction have now returned to their native languages. “English should only be taught as a language subject. Our team has been chalking up a curriculum comprising Iqbaliaat, Riyasat-e-Medina and Pakistaniat,” he told the meeting.

The K-P education secretary said political determination is needed to ensure uniform curriculum for education. We are neither against madrasas nor the private schools, he added.

Mufti Munib said some elements try to challenge the educational system of seminaries without proper rationale. ‘We support a uniform system of education, however. There should be a national certification system,” he added.

Talking to media after the meeting, the federal minister said that societies tend to develop rifts and divide if its minds come from different systems of education. Out of the 220 million people, 400,000 children are studying in elite private schools, he lamented.

He said efforts were made to call the education minister for Sindh but he was busy in a meeting called by his chief minister so he could not come. “I request Sindh government to come and join us,” he said.

He said the prime minister wants to end up the divide caused from different curricula. In order to develop a uniform system for education, experts will review the systems of different countries so we can head toward a uniformed educational certification within a period of five to seven years, he added.

Source: The Express Tribune