In Pakistan, you will hear people debating the pros and cons of two different kinds of primary school books. Ask them what the difference between the two is, and you will get a familiar answer: One school syllabus enables the student to speak English, the other does not. Most of us don’t realize that, at the core, both English and Urdu medium syllabi available in Pakistan are the same.
In Pakistan, a child studying science in English is considered a part of the “English Medium” educational system, whereas a child studying science in Urdu is considered a student of “Urdu Medium” school. But we need to ask ourselves. Is it that simple? Is the medium of instruction the only difference? Are students studying Science, Social studies, and Math in English getting a superior education compared to the students studying the same subjects in Urdu?
What about developed countries like South Korea, Germany, and China, where students study these subjects in their own language? The primary school syllabus of these countries is not in English, but their students still excel and do wonderful once they step into professional life.
Let’s accept it. The language is not the only factor that creates a difference between a first and second-class primary school syllabus. As a matter of fact, it’s not a factor at all. But more than that, we must realize a bitter truth: The common thread between Pakistan’s English and Urdu medium syllabus is the same: Rote memorization. One system makes students memorize facts and figures in English, the other in Urdu!
The difference between an effective world-class primary school syllabus and an old-style syllabus is one: Competency development. A good syllabus develops students’ competencies, enabling them to think and do more independently. It helps students develop a set number of skills every year. And what about ‘a-not-so-good-syllabus’? Well, it does not help students do anything except for one thing: reproduce.
Here are some major differences between the two types of primary School books:
| Â | Effective Syllabus | Old Style Syllabus |
| Broad objectives | Competency development | Rote memorization |
| Targets (specific objectives) | Set of skills clearly defined by the developers (Publishers) of the syllabus, these standards should meet the international guidelines | Reproduction for the sake of good grades |
| Activities | Focused on practice, thinking, and trying | Taking notes, underlining answers in the book |
| Assessments | Check reading comprehension from unseen passages, creative writings, analyzing, evaluating | Reproducing the memorized text. |
The difference between a good and a bad primary school syllabus is not a medium of instruction but competency developed, and it got nothing to do with the medium of instruction. The Butterfly and Friends syllabus by EAST is the only effective (competency-based) syllabus developed entirely in Pakistan.