The document outlines challenges facing Pakistan's education policy and reforms being undertaken. Key challenges include fragmented governance, poor quality teachers and infrastructure, and low literacy. The national education policy aims to provide universal free primary and secondary education, promote equity, set minimum standards, and increase education funding. Reforms include revising curriculum, improving teacher training, establishing district education boards, and encouraging private sector involvement. The new scheme of studies makes changes to subject requirements and offerings.

1. ACTIVE EDUCATION POLICY2009
CHALLENGES
Weakened Governance
1. Fragmentation
2. Lack of Clarity in Inter-Tier Relationships
• PoorQuality of Teachers & Managers
• Quality of curriculum, textbooks & exams
• Low level of literacy
Out of schoolchildren
• Dropouts
• Public Private Partnership
• In-adequate financing
• Gender Equity
• Poormonitoring & evaluation
• Imbalance in primary, middle & secondaryschools
• Inconvenient schoollocation
SALIENT FEATURES OF NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY
• Universal and Free Primary and Secondary Education
• promotion of Equity
• Minimum National Standards
• Relevance to Labour Market
• Sector Planning
• Financial allocation of 7% of GDP by 2018
• Encourage Private sector
• Link Allocations to Definition of Free Education
• Improve Planning, Management and Implementation Capacity
• Overcoming Fragmented Governance
Bridging the Public Private Divide
•Improved Examination System
•Introduction of Early Childhood Education (3-5 years) & inclusive
education.
•Achieve the MDG goals.
•All Primary schools shall be upgraded to Middle level
•Well developed plan for expanding schoolfacilities.
•High priority to reducing drop out rates
•Improved schoolenvironment
•Career Counselling at higher secondary level
•Develop national literacy curriculum
•Enhance qualifications for employment as teachers
•Pre-service & in-service teacher training
•Accreditation and certification of teachers
•Merit based teacher recruitment, professionaldevelopment, promotions &
postings

2. •Curriculum development
•Competitive publishing of textbooks and learning materials
•District Education Boards to be established for managing schools
•Separate management & academic cadres
POLICYREFORMS UNDERTAKEN
Highlights of NewScheme ofStudies:
a.‘Islamiat’ as an integrated subject in Classes I-II.
b.Full-fledged subject from Classes III toXII. ‘Ethics’ for
non-Muslims.
c..Advanced ‘Islamic Studies’ in Classes IX-XII as an elective subject.
d..General Science compulsory from Classes IV-VIII.
e.Pakistan Studies compulsory upto Class-X. Advance Pakistan
Studies as Elective for Classes XI & XII.
f.History, Geography compulsory in Classes VI-VIII. Includes
history of sub-continentupto 1947. Post1947 in Pak Studies
g..Computer Literacy compulsory for Classes VI-VIII. ‘Computer
Science’ elective subjectin Classes IX-X and a Group in Class XI-XII.
h.Choice of Arabic / Other Languages, Drawing, Technology,
Home Economics,Agriculture in Classes VI to VIII.h.Medical
Technology Group (6 subjects) in Classes XI & XII.
ReviewofCurriculum:
a.Curriculum being updated in view of new Scheme of Studies,
challenges of modernworld and job market.
b.Curriculum for 24 coresubjects notified. Implementation from 2009.
Total subjects 81.