The Senate, which is the Upper House of Parliament, has approved the Free and Compulsory Education Amendment Bill 2026, which introduces major modifications to the national school curriculum, including the requirement for computer science and coding to be taught as mandatory subjects.
As per the amendment, programming education will now be a legal obligation for all students from elementary through high school, representing a notable transition towards digital learning within the country’s educational framework.
This bill modifies the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2012, officially adding computer science and coding into the core academic subjects taught in schools across the nation.
Officials have stated that this initiative is designed to equip students for the global job market and the requirements of the contemporary technology-driven age, ensuring that they acquire vital digital skills from an early age.
The bill highlights that mere basic literacy is no longer adequate, and every student will now be approved to learn computer programming as a component of their education.
The revised law will take effect immediately following its endorsement by the Senate.
Punjab govt to open schools alternatively on Saturdays
Earlier, the Punjab government announced that it may review the school academic calendar after private schools objected to the long summer vacations in the province.
The Education Minister of Punjab, Rana Sikandar Hayat, while speaking to a private TV channel, said that long holidays negatively affect students’ education. He agreed with the concerns that had been raised by private schools.
