OVERLOADED MODEL TEXTBOOKS OF SINGLE NATIONAL CURRICULUM 2020 AND THE CHALLENGE OF CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE SCHEME OF STUDIES.

Abstract

The introduction of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) 2020 in Pakistan marked a national effort to ensure educational uniformity, equity, and inclusivity across diverse schooling systems. However, the model textbooks developed under this curriculum have proven to be excessively content-heavy, pedagogically rigid, and incompatible with the time allocation defined in the official scheme of studies. This paper critically analyzes the burdensome nature of SNC model textbooks, highlighting the challenges teachers face in classroom management, instructional delivery, and learner engagement. Subject-wise examples from English, Urdu, General Knowledge, Science, and Islamiat textbooks illustrate how the overambitious design of the SNC has strained classroom dynamics. The study concludes that the curriculum’s vision of equality and quality cannot be realized without rationalizing textbook content, revising the scheme of studies, and empowering teachers with greater pedagogical flexibility.