Punjab to Make Major Change to School Curriculum

The Punjab Education Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA) has initiated curriculum reforms for grades I to V aimed at shifting primary education from rote memorization to concept-based learning.

The development comes as the authority held the inaugural meeting of its Curriculum Advisory Committee to review the existing primary education framework and outline a new reform strategy.

According to PECTAA, the initial phase will focus on early grades, with the committee tasked with reviewing student learning outcomes (SLOs) to reduce volume, remove duplication, and align content with core conceptual learning.

The authority said the reform aims to move away from content-heavy instruction and promote critical thinking, understanding, and adaptability among students. The existing primary curriculum has faced criticism for its reliance on rote learning and excessive content, which has limited effective teaching and learning.

PECTAA said the revised framework will introduce a streamlined curriculum aligned with international standards, while providing teachers with greater flexibility and support to improve classroom delivery.