KMU launches modular curriculum system in medical colleges

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Medical University (KMU) has launched modular curriculum system as per requirement of World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) in five affiliated medical colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on pilot basis.

This decision was taken after conducting a series of meetings of principals of affiliated medical colleges. These meetings were held under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Arshad Javaid, Vice-Chancellor Khyber Medical University, Peshawar.

It is worth mentioning that present curriculum taught in Pakistan is a discipline-based model, inherited from British India, and is generally centered around old-fashioned methods of teaching and passive learning rather than didactic teaching and adult learning.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has chalked out the outlines of medical curriculum but surveyed faculty has declared that it does not consider the health needs of Pakistan, lacks integration of basic with clinical sciences and is a source of stress for medical students.

Since, medical education needs to be constantly updated in response to our social needs and requirements of the medical practice; a robust curriculum needs constant revision and reforms in the light of changing social circumstances.

The reality of possible closing of some of the doors of foreign employment for Pakistani doctors after the implementation of Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) announcement, in 2023, makes the curriculum issue to be taken as urgent and treated as a priority on a now or never basis, so this was the challenge which paved the way for launching modular curriculum system in affiliated medical colleges of KMU.

It is also important to highlight that KMU, being the only medical university of the province, has a mandate and responsibility to spearhead the curricular reforms by initiating the process, sensitizing the stakeholders, providing guidance, developing capacity, supervising the process, developing assessment process and ensuring compliance in all the constituent and affiliated medical schools.