Lighter books with QR codes for montessori to grade-5 students in Punjab from April 2027
LAHORE: Books under a new curriculum for montessori to grade 5 would be available for the new academic session beginning in April 2027, an official told Dawn on Thursday. Authorities say that the revised curriculum will reduce the burden of textbooks and would steer a shift away from rote learning. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam gave her approval for the new curriculum while chairing a meeting in…
Textbooks for the upcoming academic session in Punjab, starting in April 2027, will be lighter and more interactive, officials announced. The new curriculum, approved by Chief Minister Maryam, aims to reduce the burden of heavy textbooks by decreasing page count, with a 25% reduction in the total volume, according to Musa Ali Bukhari, CEO of the Punjab Education Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (Pectaa).
The revised curriculum, which spans from Montessori to grade 5, will also incorporate QR codes in each book. These codes will enable students to access video lessons, providing an interactive learning experience. Furthermore, the focus of the new curriculum is placed on improving learning outcomes rather than rote memorization.
Cambridge International Education (CIE), a globally recognized educational framework, will provide the final content for the curriculum by December 2026. Pectaa will begin printing the textbooks in January. In an effort to improve teaching quality, CIE officials involved in the curriculum development will also train teachers for the new syllabus.
Additionally, the CM's Office announced that Saturdays would be dedicated to teachers' training across Punjab, with authors of the new textbooks conducting training sessions. The provincial chief executive directed officials to finalize an artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum for grades 1-12 and stressed the development of computer laboratories alongside the new curriculum.
The meeting also addressed the implementation of mental health training for teachers and the appointment of visiting psychologists in every district. Online counselling facilities for students were also proposed. Lastly, CM Maryam called for an end to corporal punishment in schools, advocating for constructive disciplinary measures instead of physical violence.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
