A Study to Investigate the Challenges Faced by Teachers in Implementation of Single National Curriculum

Abstract

The implementation of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) in Pakistan is an important step toward standardizing the education system. The sudden shift from a diverse education system to a unified curriculum has created multiple challenges at the classroom level, particularly for teachers who are responsible for its practical implementation. Despite the critical nature of these challenges, there is limited research work on empirical evidence examining teacher’s experiences and challenges in implementing the SNC. This study therefore, aims to address this gap by exploring the major challenges faced by primary school teachers in District Musakhail of Balochistan province. This research adopted a descriptive research approach aligned on quantitative data collection and analysis, whereas 215 teachers out of 483 primary school teachers had been selected by employing stratified random sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect the data. According to the Key findings of the study, implementation of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) has created substantial challenges for teachers and students, mainly in terms of curriculum understanding, pedagogical adaptation, and medium of instruction. A large percentage of teachers reported difficulties due to inadequate clarity of content, insufficient resources, and lack of appropriate training. Moreover, concerns regarding relevance of curriculum with student’s prior knowledge and alignment with their needs further effect the whole situation. Grounded on the findings several key recommendations arise to address these challenges. Primarily, enhancing teacher’s preparedness through targeted professional development programs focusing on curriculum understanding, pedagogical strategies, and assessment methods. Secondly, strengthening language proficiency programs to address the medium of instruction challenge, by language proficiency guides, online platforms, mobile apps, and TV channels for both teachers and students.