H.M.T.             PC # 02               Job # 4842(17)FE&PT 
          
              NATIONAL CURRICULUM 
                       FRAMEWORK 
                          PAKISTAN 
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                            
                                                   
          
                                    
                                    
                                    
                 Ministry of Federal Education &  
                       Professional Training 
          
                                                              
          
        
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                                                        TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                  Chapter – 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 1 
                  Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 
                     1.1     Importance and Goals of Education .............................................................................................. 1 
                     1.2     Curriculum Definitions ................................................................................................................. 2 
                     1.3     Quality in Education ..................................................................................................................... 2 
                     1.4     Standards in Education.................................................................................................................. 3 
                     1.5     History of Curriculum Development in Pakistan .......................................................................... 3 
                  Chapter – 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 7 
                  Rationale and Format for National Curriculum Framework (NCF) ..................................................... 7 
                     2.1     Need for National Curriculum Framework ................................................................................... 7 
                     2.2     Issues and Challenges after 18th Constitutional Amendment ........................................................ 8 
                     2.3     Development of National Curriculum Framework ....................................................................... 8 
                  Chapter – 3 ................................................................................................................................................ 12 
                  Process of Curriculum Development ....................................................................................................... 12 
                     3.1     Foundations of Curriculum ......................................................................................................... 12 
                     3.2     Curriculum Foundations for Pakistan ......................................................................................... 12 
                     3.3     Aims and Objectives of Education .............................................................................................. 16 
                     3.4     International Commitments, Global Challenges and Learning Needs of 21st  Century ............. 18 
                     3.5     Guiding Principles for Curricula in Pakistan .............................................................................. 18 
                     3.6     Interweaving Goals of Curriculum for Pakistan ......................................................................... 19 
                     3.7     Steps of Curriculum Development .............................................................................................. 20 
                     3.8     Guidelines for Revision and Development of Curriculum.......................................................... 20 
                     3.9     Selection of Content .................................................................................................................... 25 
                     3.10    Organization of Contents ............................................................................................................ 25 
                     3.11    Delivery of Curriculum ............................................................................................................... 27 
                     3.12    Assessment and Evaluation of Curriculum ................................................................................. 27 
                     3.13    Challenges of Curriculum Development in Pakistan .................................................................. 27 
                  Chapter – 4 ................................................................................................................................................ 29 
                  Textbooks and Supplementary Learning Materials .............................................................................. 29 
                     4.1     Importance of Textbooks ............................................................................................................ 29 
                     4.2     Importance of Support Materials to enhance learning ................................................................ 32 
                     4.3     Teachers‘ guides ......................................................................................................................... 33 
                     4.4     Workbooks .................................................................................................................................. 33 
                     4.5     Supplementary learning materials ............................................................................................... 34 
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                      4.6      Issues and Challenges in Implementation ................................................................................... 34 
                      4.7      Regulatory Regime for Textbooks and Learning Materials ........................................................ 35 
                      4.8      Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders in Textbook Development ..................................... 36 
                      4.9      Stages of Textbook Writing Process ........................................................................................... 36 
                      4.10     Textbooks standards .................................................................................................................... 38 
                      4.11     Standards for Textbooks& Supplementary Learning Materials .................................................. 38 
                   Chapter – 5 ................................................................................................................................................ 41 
                   Teacher Education and Continuous Professional Development ........................................................... 41 
                      5.1      Current trends in teaching techniques ......................................................................................... 41 
                      5.2      Teaching Methodologies ............................................................................................................. 41 
                      5.3      Major Issues and Challenges....................................................................................................... 43 
                      5.4      Continuous Professional Development ....................................................................................... 44 
                      5.5      Standards for Teachers ................................................................................................................ 44 
                   Chapter – 6 ................................................................................................................................................ 55 
                   Learning Environment in Schools ........................................................................................................... 55 
                      6.1      Learning Environment and its Components ................................................................................ 55 
                      6.2      School Infrastructure Guidelines ................................................................................................ 57 
                   Chapter – 7 ................................................................................................................................................ 63 
                   Medium of Instruction and Teaching of Languages .............................................................................. 63 
                      7.1      Language and Learning ............................................................................................................... 63 
                      7.2      Manifestations of Medium of Instruction ................................................................................... 63 
                      7.3      National and Provincial Languages: Importance and Commonalities ........................................ 64 
                      7.4      Education Policies and Medium of Instruction ........................................................................... 66 
                      7.5      Guidelines for Medium of Instruction ........................................................................................ 67 
                      7.6      Guidelines for Teaching of Languages ....................................................................................... 68 
                   Chapter – 8 ................................................................................................................................................ 69 
                   Assessment and Examination ................................................................................................................... 69 
                      8.1      What is Assessment? ................................................................................................................... 69 
                      8.2      Types of Assessment ................................................................................................................... 69 
                      8.3      Importance and Purpose of Assessment ...................................................................................... 71 
                      8.4      Steps for Assessment Standardization ........................................................................................ 71 
                      8.5      Guidelines for Implementing Standards for Assessment ............................................................ 72 
                   Chapter – 9 ................................................................................................................................................ 74 
                   Feedback Mechanism ............................................................................................................................... 74 
                      9.1      Need and Importance of Feedback .............................................................................................. 74 
                      9.2      Nature of Feedback and Evaluation ............................................................................................ 74 
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