ISLAMABAD: The Senate, the Upper House of Parliament, has approved the Free and Compulsory Education Amendment Bill 2026, introducing significant reforms to the national curriculum, including the mandatory inclusion of computer science and coding in schools.
Under the new legislation, programming education will be compulsory for students from elementary through high school, marking a major step toward strengthening digital literacy in Pakistan’s education system.
The bill amends the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2012, formally incorporating computer science and coding into the core academic framework across the country.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at equipping students with essential digital skills needed for the modern global economy and improving their competitiveness in technology-driven job markets.
The legislation further stresses that foundational literacy alone is no longer sufficient in today’s era, making computer programming a compulsory component of education for all students.
Following Senate approval, the amended law will come into immediate effect nationwide.
