revised curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and for classes 1 through to 5 has been finalised by a group of education specialists, curriculum experts, teachers and government officials under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training on Wednesday.

The final draft of the curriculum has been put up for approval in the ministry and is expected to be approved and notified by the end of this month. After it is notified, the process of preparing textbooks will be started and new textbooks based on revised curriculum are expected to be developed by December this year.

Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman spearheaded and monitored the review process, which was ongoing for the past few months. He issued special guidelines that the new curriculum should also concentrate on ethical values and civil conduct and that the material should also focus on health and hygiene; civic sense and global citizenship; environmental protection and energy conservation, democratic culture, national harmony, tolerance and respect for diversity.

In a statement, the minister said the government is placing emphasis on improving the quality of education and research in the country and that the curriculum review project is a step forward in that direction.

The ministry is undertaking curriculum review to match modern international education standards,` he said.

Eight subject specialist committees of 10 members reviewed and revised the curriculum. The subjects which were revised include ECCE which is pre-primary education, languages including Urdu and English, general science, general knowledge, social studies, mathematics and Islamic studies.