Effectiveness of the Single National Curriculum of Social Studies at the Primary Level

Abstract

A curriculum helps pupils attain academic success and develop critical thinking skills, as well as future career preparedness (Mehmood & Hussain, 2023). Diverse curricula were offered in various schools before the introduction of the Single National Curriculum (SNC). In addition to lowering socioeconomic gaps and standardizing instruction in public, private, and religious schools, the SNC aims to advance equity, national cohesion, and 21st-century skills. The SNC was introduced to standardize educational content across different schooling systems. It aims to promote fairness, national unity, and quality learning outcomes. This research paper examines how effective the Single National Curriculum (SNC) for Social Studies is at the primary school level in Pakistan. This narrative review-based study applied a thematic analysis approach, and the library research model was utilized to gather the data from Books, notes, journals, and research papers. The study combines various research findings, policy reviews, and opinions from stakeholders from various studies to evaluate the impact of the SNC on learning outcomes, critical thinking skills, social fairness, teaching practices, and the specific challenges faced during implementation in Social Studies. The author compiled data over the past five years, utilizing PRISMA and the library research model to sketch the whole procedure of using the resources. The results suggest that while the SNC offers potential for fair educational reform and better cognitive and social results, significant gaps in implementation, particularly in teacher training, resource distribution, and clarity of the curriculum, hinder its effectiveness.