ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said the government is committed to revolutionising the education system and directed to complete all educational reforms projects by 2017.
He gave these instructions while chairing a high level meeting with officials of Ministry of Capital Administration and Development (CADD), Education and Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBIS).
The minister was briefed about the progress of Vision 2025 education sector projects including Smart School System, Up-gradation of ICT schools, Examination System reforms, National Curriculum Reform, Transformational Teacher Training Programme and Mainstreaming of Madaris projects.
The minister emphasised the need for speeding up the pace of work as these projects would bring a radical change in the education system of Pakistan .While giving his observations on smart school project he said that next academic session in 2017 should start with smart schools.
He said that the Smart School project will revolutionise the education system and contribute to promote the creativity and innovation among students. Under this project 32 schools will be transformed into SMART school by employing blended learning. Out of 32 schools 24 will be chosen from ICT area and 8 will be chosen from the provinces.
While giving his observation on Modernisation and Standardisation of Examination System, the minister said that there is a dire need to reform the whole system of examination like testing, evaluation and compilation of results. He emphasised that all provinces should have standardised examination system and council of common interest must be taken on board for reforms in this area.
About the National Curriculum Reforms project, Ahsan Iqbal said that curriculum is the soul of the education system so its importance can never be undermined. He stressed to keep the private sector in the process of reform in the national curriculum. “We need to utilise the blended learning methods for students to inspire creativity in them,” he said.
He also directed authorities to include art subjects as compulsory to inspire creativity in students along with STEM subjects. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) subjects are critical for our future. He said the medium of instruction in primary schools must be revisited as majority of students are unable to develop proficiency in English and resort to rote learning without comprehending concepts.
The quality of teaching in vast majority of schools in English language is very poor resulting in further marginalisation of students in rural and under developed areas. Therefore, a curriculum with mix of both Urdu and English languages should be explored.
