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LAHORE - The four provincial education ministers have approved radical changes in the country’s education system from grade I (class 1) to the higher secondary school level, and have decided to introduce a new ‘Medical Technology Group’ at the intermediate (FSc) level.
The FSc Medical Technology Group will include the subjects of lab technology, imaging technology, operation theatre technology, ophthalmology technology, physiotherapy technology and dental hygiene technology. All the subjects will be taught in English.
Punjab Education Minister Imran Masood told The Nation on Monday that many fundamental changes had been made at the school level. The subject of Islamiat, currently being taught separately in grade I and II, has been made part of the new subject of general knowledge that will be taught in Urdu. The subject also includes science and social studies. The minister said tat provincial languages - Punjabi, Balochi, Pushto and Sindhi - would be taught from class 1 but this step will be subjected to the availability of teachers. He said that mathematics would also be taught in English language from class 1. Non-Muslim students will now be taught the subject of “ethics” from class 3. Islamiat will be taught as a separate subject from grade III (class 3).
Masood said that the changes were decided at a meeting of the four education ministers recently held in Peshawar. “The aim of these changes is to ensure that the new generation is creative, constructive and becomes capable of effectively participating in the highly competitive global environment,” he said, adding that the curriculum aimed at educating Pakistanis to become disciplined, moderate and enlightened citizens.
The minister said that weekly internal evaluation of students would be ensured at the school level and there would be no retention in grade I and II. The subject of science will be taught in English language from grade IV onwards. “For the first time, computer education has been made a compulsory subject from grade six to grade eight. Geography and history too have been made core subjects in the same grades, carrying 50 marks each,” Masood said. He said that optional subjects from class 6 to class 8 would be Arabic, Persian, regional languages, drawing, health and physical education, home economics and agriculture. Physical training (PT) has also been made compulsory in all schools for three days in a week.
The minister said that the meeting had decided that composite matriculation exams would be held in all provinces. The marks of practical exams in physics, chemistry and biology have been reduced from 25 to 15 for matriculation exams. The standard national school calendar has been divided into three terms of 70 days each. “With the change of the academic session, we now have 210 working days.
That means an increase of 40 working days. This will definitely help improve the education standards,” Masood said.
