Implementation of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) at Primary Level: Teachers' Expectations and Concerns

Abstract

The Pakistani government will introduce the Single National Curriculum (SNC), which was developed in 2020 and will be implemented in primary schools for the academic year 2020-21. Teachers' expectations and concerns about the adoption of a single national curriculum (SNC) at elementary level were the primary focus of the study. The study was carried out using a qualitative research approach. Interviews with ten teachers were conducted over the phone using an unstructured interview style. The call recorder's mobile app was used to record the interviews. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the transcribed data in an Excel spreadsheet. Teachers believe that SNC will help Pakistan become a more united and strong nation in the future. It will help to advance the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal by ensuring that all children receive an equal education that is of the highest possible standard. It will help alleviate poverty in Pakistan, but only in the short term. Educators will benefit from a more fair system. It will improve national unity and reduce educational inequity. Worries over implementation of SNC in all education systems, barriers to children's "freedom of choice in education," lack of resources, instructors' incompetence, and teachers' and stakeholders' resistance are among the teachers' key concerns, according to statistics. There should be a greater awareness of SNC through print and electronic media, and more funds should be allocated to overcome the lack of resources in schools for its implementation; loan schemes for private sector schools that cannot implement SNC due to a lack of resourcing should be introduced; and refresher courses for in-service teachers are recommended based on findings.