Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training, National Heritage, and Culture, announced to the National Assembly on Friday that the Cambridge Education System is being phased into colleges managed by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
During the question hour, she explained that this initiative is starting as a pilot project in four government institutions, with plans for gradual expansion to additional institutions. The project is in its early stages, with only a few educational institutions under the FDE set to adopt the system initially.
Important matter, yet the Ministry of Education has not provided the necessary details.
The @EduMinistryPK must clarify the number of colleges and expected student enrolment under the Cambridge education system, along with the eligibility criteria. It's essential to know if this… pic.twitter.com/MRjngdObmK
— Senator Sehar Kamran T.I. (@SeharKamran) February 14, 2025The implementation was in response to inquiries from MNA Sehar Kamran about ensuring equitable access to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Farah Naz explained that the introduction of the Cambridge system addresses requests from parents who cannot afford private school fees. Beginning in April, it will start from grade 6, and fees will be charged only at the A Levels, at half the usual rate.
MNA Dr Nafisa Shah voiced concerns about the impact of this system on educational equity and the rationale behind adopting the Cambridge system if the existing educational framework was robust. “If our education system is strong, why are we sending valuable foreign exchange abroad?” she challenged. Dr. Shah also questioned the foreign exchange expenditures associated with the Cambridge system and the costs related to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Read: New App Launched to Connect Differently-Abled Children with Educational Opportunities
She argued that adopting the Cambridge system could undermine Pakistan’s educational structure. In response, Farah Naz promised to return to the assembly with more comprehensive information.
