A LEXICO-GRAMMATICAL EVALUATION OF GRADE V ENGLISH TEXTBOOK UNDER PAKISTAN’S SINGLE NATIONAL CURRICULUM

Abstract

This study presents a qualitative lexico-grammatical evaluation of the Grade V English textbook prescribed by the Punjab Textbook Board in Pakistan, with specific reference to the Formal and Lexical Competency standards of the Single National Curriculum (SNC). The purpose of the research is to examine the extent to which grammar and vocabulary content in the textbook aligns with SNC Student Learning Outcomes, and whether these elements are presented in a contextualized and functional manner. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, the textbook was analyzed through an SNC-based evaluation checklist focusing on grammatical progression, contextual use, vocabulary range, recycling, and functional application. The findings reveal that while the textbook adequately covers the prescribed grammatical structures and thematically relevant vocabulary at the content level, instruction remains largely rule-based, decontextualized, and accuracy-oriented. Grammar activities are predominantly mechanical, with limited integration into meaningful discourse, and vocabulary instruction is mostly receptive, lacking systematic recycling and productive use. The textbook only partially fulfills the competency-based philosophy of the SNC. The study highlights a significant gap between curriculum policy and textbook implementation and underscores the need for more context-driven, communicative, and cumulative approaches to lexico- grammatical instruction at the primary level.