Pakistan: Concept-based learning to replace rote memorisation in Punjab schools
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The Punjab Education Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA) has introduced curricula changes in grades I to V, aiming to replace rote memorisation with concept-based learning.
The authority convened the inaugural meeting of its Curriculum Advisory Committee here on Saturday regarding reforming the primary education system in Punjab.
The meeting was chaired by Nausheen Adnan, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, and Pectaa Vice Chairperson Musa Ali Bukhari. A keynote presentation outlining the current curriculum landscape and the proposed reform framework was delivered by Dr Zubda Ziaur Rehman, establishing the foundation for the committee’s deliberations.
“The reform initiative will initially focus on grades I to V, the foundational years of learning. The committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of existing student learning outcomes (SLOs) to reduce their volume, eliminate redundancies, and reframe them around core conceptual competencies,” the authority said, and added the aim was to move beyond content-heavy instruction towards a curriculum that nurtured critical thinking, understanding, and adaptability among students.
Pectaa to initially introduce curriculum changes in grades I to V
A diverse group of leading educationists, policymakers, and practitioners participated in the meeting, including representatives from the University of Education Lahore, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Beaconhouse School System, Society for the Advancement of Education, and Pakistan Institute of Education. International and national experts also joined virtually from organisations such as Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and The Citizens Foundation.
Punjab’s existing primary curriculum has long faced criticism for its excessive volume and emphasis on rote learning, limiting teachers’ ability to focus on conceptual understanding and inquiry-based learning.
“This reform seeks to address these challenges by creating a streamlined, concept-driven curriculum aligned with international best practices,” it said, and added that the authority aimed to provide teachers with greater flexibility and support to deliver effective instruction, while enabling students to develop a deeper understanding and essential learning skills.
Reference Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/1997110
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
