CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN

 Critical review

Of
“class X Pakistan
studies Textbook”

By  miss wilayat

In
the history of curriculum development in Pakistan in 1960, social studies were
introduced as compulsory subject at elementary and secondary levels. Later on
in 1976, the name of “Social studies” was changed to “Pakistan Studies” for
high classes (ix-x) with particular emphasis on its ideological, historical,
geographical, socio-economic and cultural aspects of the country.

The content of Pakistan
studies at secondary level spreads over ten chapters for class x.

The content of each
chapter is briefly stated

Chapter# 1 Ideological
Basis of Pakistan

This chapter contains
themes such as

·        
Features of an Islamic society

·        
Ideology of Pakistan

·        
National characteristics

Chapter#2 the Making of
Pakistan

This chapter discusses

·        
Different revival movements started by
shah waliullah, syed Ahmed shaheed, Haji Shariatyllah etc.

·        
Two nation theory, Muslim League as mass
movement and the establishment of Pakistan.

·        
Role of various provinces in making of Pakistan.

Chapter# 3 the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

This chapter
concentrates on the objective resolution, constitution making history, the Islamic
and main provisions of 1973 constitution. The chapter ends with explaining the
causes of the fall of East Pakistan.

Chapter# 4 Land and
Climate of Pakistan

The chapter discusses
the geographical features and characteristics of Pakistan. Sub themes of the chapter
are

·        
Location

·        
Physical features

·        
Climate of Pakistan

·        
Influence of climate on the activities
of the people in different regions.

Chapter# 5 Resources of
Pakistan

This chapter discusses
different types of resources such as

·        
Natural resources

·        
Agricultural resources

·        
Mineral resources

·        
Power resources

·        
Human resources

The underlying concepts
of the chapter are conservation, preservation and exploitation of resources.
Children are also made aware of the irrigation system of Pakistan and
the reforms which have been brought in agriculture.

Chapter# 6 Industrial
Development in Pakistan

The industrial
resources include such topics as means of communication, roads, railways, air,
sea, trade and commerce, foreign trade etc. The chapter also describes the
different types of industries.

Chapter# 7 Population
of Pakistan

This chapter includes
the following topics

·        
Demography: Population and population characteristics
urban/rural, literacy rate.

·        
Growth of population, migration

·        
Development of resources and population
growth

Students are adequately
familiarized with the concepts of census, population, population growth,
urbanization and migration factors and forces.

Chapter# 8 the
Pakistani Culture

The culture of Pakistan
include such topics

·        
Language of Pakistan

·        
The importance of national language

·        
Common culture manifestation in the
national life

·        
Dress, arts, crafts, and festivals

In the context of
cultural orientation, the concepts of unity, integration, national cohesion,
preservation of heritage and promotion of national unity in diversity,
patriotism etc has been highlighted in the content.

Chapter# 9 Education in
Pakistan

The education in Pakistan
discusses such issues and types of education system in Pakistan

·        
Formal primary, secondary and
professional education

·        
Importance of education in different
fields of life

·        
Problems and prospects of education

·        
Chapter# 10 Pakistan: A welfare state

·        
The main features of the content
contained in this chapter are the concepts of welfare state, national goals,
need for sustained constructive efforts, and self sufficiency in food,
universal education, egalitarian society, universal brotherhood and world
peace, balanced distribution of resources and role of individuals towards
welfare state.

Critical review

The
curriculum of Pakistan
studies is comprehensive in nature. A thematic approach has been adopted for
all its constituent parts of history, geography, civics and economics of
country, some of the chapters like ‘Resources’ and industrial development in
Pakistan  are unnecessarily lengthy and
slightly difficult and boring for students, while others are normal in length and
lead students from easy to difficult concept.

            On the whole the course is theoretical in nature, not
supported by various activities to be carried out by students so that the
subject could be make interesting. Activity is the natural urge of the child,
while the urge of the child is not incorporated to bring the student close to
the real life situation.

            No objectives are give in the beginning of each chapter.
Contents are not devised properly due to lack of objectives.

            In order to make the student familiar of social, cultural
and geographical environment, study trips is the most important activity but we
cannot see any provision for such trips.

            A variety of audio-visual aids have not been recommended
to be used in teaching of Pakistan
studies. There is no indication which type of aid be prepared by teachers and
students.

            No pictorial representation i.e. pictures of important
personalities and places are not provided.

            New social problems & issues will emerge with the
passage of time but in this book there is no flexibility to absorb and
accommodate such changes and development without disturbing its fundamentals
and equilibrium.

            Important project work is not given at the end of each
unit as to ensure the participation of social children in various community
based activities outside the school.

            There is no provision of skill development for school
children e.g. Map making, or making models of different form of landscapes.