The Single National Curriculum (SNC) is a step taken by the government towards ensuring, in theory, that all children in public and private schools and madrassas have an equal opportunity to receive quality education. Phase I of the SNC was implemented in August 2021 for classes pre-1 to 5 in all Beaconhouse schools in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

It was initially unclear whether the SNC set a ‘floor’ (minimum student learning outcomes) or a ‘ceiling’ for learning. The government later clarified that the SNC represents a set of minimum expectations from students (i.e. a ‘floor’). However, these minimum expectations have led to some key changes at our schools.  

The SNC offers curricula for English, Urdu, Mathematics, General Knowledge, General Science, Islamiat, and Social Studies up to class 5. The SNC ‘General Knowledge’ curriculum for classes 1 to 3 merges Social Studies and Citizenship with General Science. 

The SNC does not, however, provide curricula for Art, Music, Physical Education, Information Technology, or PSHE (Personal Social, Health and Emotional development) which we consider essential for the holistic development of your children. 

Beaconhouse continues to offer all these subjects.

Through the SNC, the government also aims to promote Urdu, our national language. While all BSS subjects will continue to be taught in English, the SNC subjects require a somewhat different approach: 

• In classes 1 to 5: English and Mathematics are being taught in English
• In classes 1 to 5: Islamiat and Urdu are being taught in Urdu 
• In classes 4 to 5: General Science is being taught in English

However, different provinces and ICT have taken certain decisions independently for General Knowledge and Social Studies. These include: 

• In classes 1 to 3: General Knowledge is being taught in English in KPK 
• In classes 1 to 3: General Knowledge is being taught in Urdu in Punjab and ICT
• In classes 4 & 5: Social Studies is being taught in English in KPK & ICT
• In classes 4 & 5: Social Studies is being taught in Urdu in Punjab

We have developed detailed guidelines for teachers to help ensure a smooth transition from English to Urdu for Social Studies and General Knowledge.

Alongside the SNC, the government has also implemented the Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Act 2017. Therefore, the recitation of the Holy Quran has been introduced in all Beaconhouse schools from class 1 to 5. An online app has been adopted to ensure the preservation of the sanctity of the Holy Quran as well as the correct pronunciation (tajweed) by approved and certified Qaris. We remain cognizant of the expected adaab while reciting the Holy Quran.

In Punjab only: As per a notification from the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board received in mid-October 2021, citing the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Act 2018, the translation of the Holy Quran has also been implemented in classes 6 to 12.  

Owing to overlaps between the content of General Knowledge and Urdu, Beaconhouse has introduced an integrated curriculum for these subjects resulting in space to enrich the curriculum of classes 1 to 3 with Environmental Education. This new subject facilitates the exploration of environmental phenomena in the physical and living world while developing awareness of issues impacting the environment. Beaconhouse has also introduced integrated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) and SUPER (Social Studies, Urdu, Physical Education and PSHE, English, and Religious Education) projects for classes 1 to 5 to create opportunities for cross-curricular linkages while developing problem-solving, critical thinking and collaborative skills. 

With the introduction of the SNC, issues regarding the unavailability of textbooks have arisen throughout the country which are beyond the control of Beaconhouse. According to the SNC Textbook Policy, all provincial textbook boards must ensure that private publishers produce textbooks which are aligned with SNC content. Therefore, no textbook, workbook, etc., may be adopted by schools without an NOC issued by the relevant Textbook Board. Publishers have been in the process of obtaining the NOCs, and the majority of their books have been approved during the first term of this school year. During this difficult period, Beaconhouse has ensured that digital content of books that are/were in the process of approval were made available to students over BSU (our online learning platform). 

Along with other leading private schools, Beaconhouse is currently working with the National Curriculum Council to address concerns with the SNC from classes pre-1 to 5 and to provide input into the design of the curriculum for classes 6 to 8, which will be rolled out in the academic year 2022-23.

 

Learner agency refers to a sense of ownership and control that students have over their own learning and now represents a key aspiration at all Beaconhouse schools. 

A key way of promoting learner agency at schools is for students to identify activities that are relevant and meaningful to them, directed by their interests, and mostly self-initiated by them – with appropriate guidance from their teachers. 

This year, Beaconhouse consciously encouraged and recognised students who went the extra mile and led projects in social entrepreneurship, civil engagement and environment protection. The success of these initiatives was celebrated in our Learner Agency Paradigm Conferences held in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi across the year 2021. 

Our next step is to work towards developing a deeper understanding of learner agency across all Beaconhouse schools, so that ultimately student voice and choice may become ubiquitous across all our classrooms. This will require the embedding of the learner agency paradigm in all professional development initiatives across the system.

The inauguration of Beaconhouse school, Al Khuwair campus, Oman took place in November 2021. Mrs Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri, Chairperson, Beaconhouse School System, was present at the occasion to officially inaugurate the school, assisted by the Assistant Director of Education for private schools; Mrs Khadijah, Ministry of Education; Mrs Zeba Masoud, Principal and Mr Rizwan Amin Sheikh, Regional Director, MENA. Omani students celebrated with a traditional Omani dance called “Barra” wielding their khanjars.

Beaconhouse celebrated International Teacher’s Day by paying a special tribute to the crucial role of teachers who selflessly shape the leaders of tomorrow and inspire nation building through focused mentoring and commitment. The tribute was marked through a thought-provoking campaign titled ‘Ajeeb log hain’, which highlighted the noble character of teachers who invest their heart and souls towards the academic nurturing and learning of their students. Beaconhouse Group is proud to be the largest employer of women within the country’s private education sector employing more than 8,500 teachers.

Beaconhouse is the largest global educational partner of Global Dignity, an independent, non-profit organisation, working towards creating a global conversation about dignity and promoting dignity-based leadership. Global Dignity Day was celebrated in October 2021 at Beaconhouse branches all over the world including Pakistan, Malaysia, Philippines, the UAE and Oman. More than 93,000 students, 10,000 teachers, 8,500 parents and 5,600 support staff participated to celebrate and raise awareness about the inherent universal right of every human to lead a dignified life.

Beaconhouse hosted two non-profit School of Tomorrow (SOT) events in May and November 2021. The two-virtual events, themed ‘Towards Happier Futures’ hosted over hundred global and local thought leaders from various sectors, including education, development, healthcare, and digital media, for insightful panel discussions on the prevailing education system in the country and varying factors impacting the world. The conferences  consisted of 13 sessions respectively, and were streamed live on SOT’s social media profiles.

Beaconhouse has a strong focus on research to inform academic practices in school. In 2021, Beaconhouse partnered with leading external research institutions such as Adam Smith International, Aga Khan University, CERP, Digital Rights Foundation, and the National Institute of Management, to carry out research pertinent to both the national and international educational landscape. Some of the research projects include measuring the impact of teaching with digital technology, examining the impact of teacher expectations on the performance and engagement of students, and investigating effective ways to promote student-centred learning using inquiry-based approaches.

Beaconhouse also conducted extensive in-house research during the pandemic to identify how schools, teachers, and students are managing learning during Covid-19 and explore different ways to enhance student learning outcomes during the shifts between online, hybrid, and face-to-face learning.

Ten members from the School Evaluation Unit team passed the ISO 21001:2018 Education Organisation Management System (EOMS) Lead Auditor exam by fulfilling the prescribed Exemplar Global of ASQ USA requirements (minimum 70% marks in written examination, full attendance, and completion of assignments).  The SEU team also secured the second, third and fourth position in the exam for the December 2021 batch.

This accreditation will help SEU develop and strengthen its image as a service provider for school evaluations externally.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Defence Creek Campus was held in July 2021. Led by Mr Kasim Kasuri, Chief Executive Beaconhouse, formal construction was initiated subsequently.

The campus, located in Defence Phase VIII, Karachi, is being constructed on an area of four kanals and will house a state-of-the-art building. Gymboree and Beaconhouse Early Years from pre-nursery to class two, will also be part of this campus. With a student capacity of 750, the school building has been designed by one of the leading architectural firms in the country.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the iconic TNS Gulberg 2.0 took place at the school’s new site in Gulberg, Lahore in February 2021. With a revolutionary new design, TNS 2.0 will be a school of interconnected ‘learning villages’. With no traditional classrooms, the new campus dares to reimagine a school design with a focus on creating spaces and experiences that promote learner agency and further strengthen TNS’s commitment towards returning to its roots as a centre of excellence for experiential, project-based learning.

Mr Kasim Kasuri, CE Beaconhouse, addressed the event along with the project’s principal architect, Ms Rosan Bosch, founder of Rosan Bosch Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the world’s leading designers of future schools. The groundbreaking was performed by Mrs Nasreen Kasuri, Chairperson of Beaconhouse, and was attended by Mr Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and other Beaconhouse Directors and executive staff.