National Education Policy (NEP) 2009

Before the expiration of National Education Policy (NEP) for the period of 1998 to 2010, the government announced the new National Education Policy (NEP) for the next decade in 2009, called the “National Education Policy (2009)”.

As the Education Policy (1998 – 2010) was not producing the desired results, the review process for the National Education Policy 1998-2010 was initiated in 2005 and the White Paper was finalized in March 2007. The White Paper became the basis for development of the new Education Policy.

The salient features of the National Education Policy (NEP) include:

• Free and universal primary education by 2015 and up to class 10 by 2025
• The allocation for education would be 7% of the national GDP by 2015
• The Literacy rate will be enhanced to 86% by 2015
• A common curricular framework shall be applied to educational institutions in both the public and the private sector
• The level of public-sector schools will be lifted to match the level of good private schools (The deadline for the task was 2010)
• The curriculum from Class 1 onward shall comprise of English (as a subject) Urdu, one regional language and mathematics, along with an integrated subject
• English shall be employed as the medium of instruction for sciences and mathematics from class IV onwards
• For 5 years Provinces shall have the option to teach mathematics and science in English or Urdu/ official regional language, but after five years the teaching of these subjects shall be in English only
• Deeni Madaris (Islamic Schools) shall be mainstreamed by introducing contemporary studies alongside the curricula of Deeni Madaris to enhance prospects of their students to pursue higher studies research and excellence and to ensure employment, recognition and equivalence
• A Bachelor degree, with a B.Ed, shall be the minimum requirement for teaching at the elementary level. A Masters degree for the secondary and higher secondary with a B.Ed, shall be ensured by 2018.