Apropos a recent email sent by a leading private school to the parents regarding the adoption of Single National Curriculum (SNC) from August 2021, I believe an ostrich-like approach is being adopted by the management of private schools and Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira).

Without taking on board and discussing the issue with the ultimate affectees — parents and children — how can the private schools’ management impose something on the parents in ‘good faith’? It has indeed shaken the ‘good faith’ of parents in them and, if mishandled, will ultimately lead to future withdrawals from private schools. In order to bring madressahs and public schools on a par with private schools, it is not advisable to apply a coercion approach toward private schools by the government. Indeed, the concept of SNC is important to bring all sectors of society on one page, but its careful implementation is also essential.

I have a few suggestions in this regard. It will be unwise to force a particular medium of instruction in subjects like sciences and social studies, etc. All children must be given the option of selecting the medium of instruction of their choice, be it English or Urdu.

Consent and feedback from parents must be sought before the implementation of SNC. After concurrence, the state may ensure the implementation of priority areas through subjects like Pakistan studies/history in national language only.

The priority areas like two-nation theory, social justice system, civic sense, intellectual freedom, etc., should be identified for inclusion in the core syllabus. The current approach by the government will adversely affect the future of O/A levels up to PhD level studies in the country.

The education ministry should avoid the trial-and-test approach to handle the issue of SNC. Any new system should be tested only on new entrants with language options. Existing private school students should preferably be allowed to complete their studies as per the prevailing system or with language options.

Besides, the introduction of a standard national school fee system must also be devised by the education ministry if relief in the real sense is intended.

Jahanzeb Ashfaq
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2021