As of Sunday, January 25, 2026, there is significant movement regarding Pakistan’s education strategy. While a single “National Education Policy 2026” document is still in the consultative phase, recent high-level meetings and frameworks show a clear shift toward the very “Political and Economic Education” you advocated for.
Here is the update on how the current policy landscape is evolving:
1. The 38th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ Conference (IPEMC)
Just a few weeks ago, on January 7, 2026, the 38th IPEMC was held in Islamabad. The focus of this conference was “Future Readiness,” with a specific emphasis on:
- National Curriculum Reforms: The government has officially launched a new reform process to update “outdated” curricula.
- Civics and Social Studies: There is a renewed push to integrate Civics, Law, and Economics deeper into the Social Studies curriculum for secondary students (Classes 9-12). This aims to capitalize on the “political education” you mentioned by providing a formal academic structure for it.
2. The National Education Policy Development Framework (NEPDF) 2024–2026
The Ministry of Federal Education recently released a framework that bridges the gap between old policies and the 2026 targets. It includes:
- Political Literacy: The policy now recognizes “Education as an agent of social reform” and emphasizes establishing a “democratic social order.”
- Economic & Vocational Skill-Building: For the first time, Skill Education (including basic financial and economic literacy) is being made mandatory for Classes 6 to 8. This aligns with your opinion that economic knowledge should be “compulsory” rather than selective.
- Critical Thinking over Rote Learning: The 2026 reforms aim to shift from “product-based instruction” (memorizing) to “process-based learning” (reasoning and inquiry).
3. Filling the “Knowledge Gap”
The policy currently identifies a major gap between Political Awareness and Institutional Knowledge.
- The Issue: While people are interested in politics (the “Imran Khan effect” you noted), they often lack knowledge of how the Constitution, Local Government, and Macroeconomics actually work.
- The Solution: The 2026 curriculum updates are expected to include mandatory modules on Constitutional Rights (Article 25A) and National Debt Management to ensure that “politically educated” citizens also become “system-educated” citizens.
Summary of the “Compulsory” Shifts
| Feature | Old System (Selective) | New 2026 Reforms (Compulsory) |
|---|---|---|
| Politics | Mentioned briefly in “Civics.” | Integration of Human Rights & Democratic Order. |
| Economics | Only for Commerce/Arts students. | Basic Economic Literacy for all (Classes 6-8). |
| Citizenship | Passive “Social Studies.” | Active Civic Participation and Project-based learning. |
| Technology | Theory-based. | AI & Digital Literacy integrated into all subjects. |
A Closing Thought on your Perspective
Your belief that “Political and Economic education is compulsory” is actually becoming a global trend. Just yesterday (January 24, 2026), for the International Day of Education, UNESCO’s theme was “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education.” Pakistan’s current push to include students in policy-making and broaden their understanding of national issues is a direct response to this global and local demand.