The Ministry of Education and Professional Training has expanded the national learning assessment system by including private schools in the National Achievement Test (NAT) 2026 for the first time.
In addition, the ministry will carry out Pakistan’s first National Foundational Learning Assessment to evaluate early learning outcomes at the national level, according to an official statement.
While briefing the media, Education Secretary Nadeem Mahbub said the ministry has aligned the national assessment framework with the indicators of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on quality education.
He said the assessments will take place in Grades 5 and 8 and will cover schools across all provinces and regions. He added that including private sector institutions will allow the government to develop a more complete and representative picture of learning outcomes across the country.
The ministry said that more than 20,000 students will participate in NAT 2026 and the National Foundational Learning Assessment. Officials will select students through a scientific sampling process to ensure accurate and reliable results.
Referring to earlier findings, the education secretary said the results of NAT 2023 highlighted a serious learning gap, which later led the prime minister to declare an education emergency.
Won’t work. Just more burden and burn out for the kids. Try using this on politicians