ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A five-day National Conference on “Single National Curriculum” organized by the National Curriculum Council concluded at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad on Friday.
While addressing online to the Closing Ceremony of the Conference, the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood congratulated all the educational units of provincial governments, stakeholders, and the National Curriculum Council.
The minister added that according to the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, the finalization of ‘One Nation: One Curriculum’ and unanimous approval of a Single National Curriculum of eight subjects for grades 6 to 8 is a step towards oneness and unity.
The education minister said that all federation units, scholars of all schools of thought, representatives of madrassas, and experts from all over the Country deserve congratulations.
Shafqat Mahmood said that the government of Pakistan is aware of its responsibilities towards national aspirations and international commitments to improve education in Pakistan. He said that the Single National Curriculum will end the class system and all citizens will get equal opportunities to move forward.
The Joint Educational Advisor/Chairman of the National Curriculum Council Muhammad Rafiq Tahir said that this curriculum is a new chapter in the history of Pakistan.
Rafiq Tahir said that one nation: one curriculum was a dream that is becoming a reality. He further added that after the success of the first phase of the single national curriculum for grade 1 to 5, in the second phase, the credit for the unanimous approval of eight subjects under the single national curriculum for grade 6 to 8 in this conference goes to the Federal Minister of Education, Shafqat Mahmood, who has patronized us at every level.
Rafiq Tahir remarked that the Allama Iqbal Open University provided us with academic support for which we are deeply grateful to the university administration and we congratulate and pay tribute to the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum for hosting both the first and second conferences.
While addressing the Closing Ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of AIOU Professor Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum said that the Ministry of Education, especially the Prime Minister Imran Khan, deserves congratulations for its serious efforts to introduce this curriculum. He said that curriculum is not so challenging but the way it will be taught is.
Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum emphasized on the training of teachers who will teach the new curriculum.
The Closing Ceremony was also addressed by the Education Secretary South Punjab Dr. Ehtesham Anwar and the Managing Director of the Punjab Curriculum/Textbook Board Dr. Farooq Manzoor.
