The Punjab government has approved a new curriculum for government schools, with major changes planned to reduce the academic burden on students and promote technology-based learning.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved the new curriculum during a special meeting on education reforms in Lahore on September 24, 2026. The meeting reviewed the curriculum for English, Mathematics, Urdu, Social Studies and Early Childhood Education.
Textbook Burden to Be Reduced
Under the new curriculum, the volume of textbooks will be reduced by 25 percent. The reform is aimed at reducing rote learning and giving greater attention to students' understanding and learning outcomes.
The revised books will also include QR codes. Students will be able to scan the codes to access video lessons related to the topics covered in their textbooks.
According to officials, the revised curriculum will initially cover Early Childhood Education through Grade 5, with new books planned for the academic session beginning in April 2027.
AI Education from Grade 1 to 12
The Punjab government has also directed officials to prepare an Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum for students from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
The Chief Minister also called for the establishment of AI laboratories in schools and stressed the need to strengthen primary education and digital literacy.
Teacher Training and Mental Health Support
The reform package includes new measures for teachers and students. Mental health training for teachers will be introduced, while the government is considering appointing visiting faculty psychologists in every district.
Online counselling facilities for students have also been proposed. In addition, one day each week will be dedicated to teacher training, with authors of the new textbooks expected to help train teachers on how to teach the revised curriculum.
Action Against Corporal Punishment
The meeting also agreed in principle on legislation aimed at preventing corporal punishment in schools. A proposal was discussed to establish "discipline corners" in classrooms as an alternative to physical punishment.
The government also emphasized improving primary education, laboratories and digital literacy across Punjab's schools.
Officials said English-language training has already been completed for around 35,000 teachers in 31 tehsils across 12 districts.
New Curriculum Expected to Bring Major Changes
The new education plan is intended to reduce textbook pressure, discourage rote memorization and introduce more technology into classroom learning. The government has directed authorities to complete the printing of the new textbooks before March, while implementation of the revised curriculum is expected to begin with the new academic session.
