Punjab cuts school textbooks by 25% in new curriculum, QR video lessons in every book

Punjab has approved a new curriculum for its government schools that cuts the textbook load by 25%. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif signed it off at a special education reform meeting in Lahore on 24 September 2026. The new books cover English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Urdu and Early Childhood Education, and every one will carry a QR code that opens a video lesson on the topic.

What changes in your child's school bag

The curriculum was prepared by the Punjab Education Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA), Dunya News and ProPakistani reported. The March printing deadline points to the new books reaching classrooms for the 2027 session, not this year. For now, children keep studying from the books they already have.

For parents: what to do now

• Do not buy new books yet. The approved books are still to be printed. Anything sold as the "new syllabus" before PECTAA releases it is a guess.
• Keep a phone handy for homework. The QR codes need a smartphone and data to play the video lessons. If your child shares your phone, a light data bundle will do.
• Watch for the official release. New textbooks and syllabus files are published by the Punjab curriculum authority, not by private publishers or WhatsApp groups.

Teachers: one day a week for training

The meeting also approved changes for teachers:

• Mental health training for teachers, a first for Punjab.
• One day a week set aside for teacher training across the province, with textbook authors running the sessions. ProPakistani reported that Saturdays have been designated for this.
• English training has been completed for 35,000 teachers in 31 tehsils of 12 districts.

Ending physical punishment

There was consensus on legislation to end corporal punishment in schools. In its place, the plan proposes "discipline corners" in classrooms. The meeting also discussed online counselling for students and a visiting psychologist in every district. These are proposals for now; a law has to pass the Punjab Assembly before the ban on physical punishment is enforceable.

Why it matters

Punjab's public schools teach millions of children, and heavy school bags have long been a complaint from parents in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and smaller towns alike. A 25% cut in the book load and free video lessons could ease both the weight and the tuition bill, if the books arrive on time.

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