National Bureau of Curriculum and Textbooks. 

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Answer. 

The first formal exercise in curriculum development was undertaken as a result of the Report of the Commission on National Education 1959. The Commission analyzed the situation pertaining to curriculum development and reforms and made useful commendations. Pursuant to the recommendations of the Commission the Ministry appointed two Curriculum Committees for Primary and Secondary Education in 1960. 

In the mid sixties the new concept of integrated and modernized science courses was introduced. This effort was initially confined to science education but was later carried on into other subject areas also. It was a significant contribution made by a group scientists and curriculum specialists that they had succeeded in preparing the people mentally for change. Curriculum development was never visualized as a distinct and specialized function. The entire curriculum activity was done through committees which were created for a specific purpose at a specific time and were dissolved as soon as the task was over. No permanent committee network was set up to advise and evaluate the curriculum development and implementation. It is in this context, that need to create the National Bureau of Curriculum and Textbooks (NBCT) at Federal level was felt for coordinating the activities of various committees and centre. Similar organizations at provincial level were also established. The existing Curriculum Wing of the Ministry of Education is, in fact, a developed form of the National Bureau of Curriculum and Textbooks. 

After the promulgation of 1973 Constitution the Curriculum, Syllabi, Planning Policy, Centres, of Excellence, Standards of Education and Islamic Education were placed on the Concurrent Legislative List of the Federal Government. This was a significant departure from the previous position when the education was an entirely provincial subject. 

Whenever it is intended to frame or revise a curriculum, the Curriculum Wing of the Ministry of Education sends the proposals to the provincial curriculum bureau/centres. These bureau/centres develop or revise the curriculum in the light of frame-work provided by the Curriculum Wing of the Ministry of Education. In the provincial centres, the revision or framing of curriculum is done by the committees. These committees comprise subject specialists and persons equipped with pedagogical skills. The draft curriculum is sent to the Curriculum Wing for their consideration and approval. In the Curriculum Wing the draft curriculum on each subject received from provincial bureau/centres is put up to the concerned National Review Committee. This committee is usually constituted for each subject and comprises the nominees of the provincial governments and subject specialists considered suitable for the purpose. The curriculum finalized by the National Review Committee is then put up to the Federal Education Secretary for approval. The approved curriculum is sent to the Provincial Textbook Boards for production of textbooks. 

The Curriculum Wing works in close collaboration with the provincial curriculum bureau/centres, the education departments, the Textbook Boards, the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education and other research organizations such as Institutes of Education and Research in the provinces. In fact the Curriculum Centres in the provinces are associated centres of the Curriculum Wing of the Federal Ministry of Education. Curriculum Wing also works in close collaboration with other international agencies. This wing is also an associated centre of the UNESCO’s Asian Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID), Bangkok. This facilitates the flow of information not only between these two agencies but also with other foreign agencies through UNESCO. This wing participates in curriculum development activities of other countries tinder various bilateral educational and cultural agreements.

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