Senate body okays bill on curriculum, textbooks supervision

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training approved The Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks, and Maintenance of Standards of Education (Amendment) Bill 2024 with six votes in favour and two against the bill.

Senators Afnan Ullah Khan, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Fawzia Arshad, and Rahat Jamali supported the bill. Whereas Senators Kamran Murtaza and Falak Naz opposed it, citing cultural sensitivities, while Senator Khalida Ateeb suggested limiting its application to secondary education.

The Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, chaired the meeting on Friday focused on key legislative proposals and educational reforms aimed at enhancing quality, accessibility, and inclusivity across Pakistan’s education system.

The meeting began by considering the private member bill titled “The Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks, and Maintenance of Standards of Education (Amendment) Bill 2024”.Senator Bushra Anjum Butt emphasised the importance of addressing sensitive topics like reproductive health in a responsible and age-appropriate manner, stressing the necessity of parental involvement.

While acknowledging some reservations, she stated that the majority of members viewed the bill as timely and essential. The committee was also briefed on the case of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) law students affected by academic transition issues.

Members were informed that most concerns had been addressed and exam schedules would resume by September 1.The chairperson reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring timely accommodations for the affected students. In discussions on disability inclusion in private schools under ICT, the committee called for strengthened infrastructure, such as accessible transportation and hearing support services.

Senator Bushra Anjum Butt proposed integrating mandatory hearing screenings into newborn vaccination cards to support early detection of disabilities. The Ministries of Health and Education were directed to collaborate and submit a joint report.