ANALYSIS OF LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION IN THE CONTENT OF URDU TEXTBOOK BY NATIONAL CURRICULUM AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL

Abstract

This research presents a qualitative content analysis of the Grade 8 Urdu textbook developed under the National Curriculum (2022), focusing on the integration of life skills based on the UNICEF MENA Life Skills Framework (2017). The analysis is guided by four major skill clusters: learning, employability, personal empowerment, and active citizenship. The textbook, consisting of 22 chapters covering diverse literary, moral, and social themes, was examined to investigate the presence and distribution of these life skills across its content. The objectives of the study were to explore how life skills are integrated into the textbook, to appraise their F distribution across chapters and topics, and to evaluate the textbook using the UNESCO (2010) guidebook on textbook research and analysis. Findings reveal that the textbook effectively incorporates all four life skill clusters, with strong emphasis on learning skills, personal empowerment, and active citizenship. The content is well-structured, age-appropriate, and aligned with national curriculum objectives. It included a balanced combination of literary and non-literary texts, along with reading, writing, and vocabulary exercises that support language development. Furthermore, the analysis confirmed that the textbook meets many criteria outlined in the UNESCO framework, particularly in terms of organization, relevance, and learner suitability. However, certain limitations were identified, including a lack of modern teaching strategies, limited focus on advanced critical thinking, and insufficient integration of innovative and practical activities. Despite these gaps, the textbook serves as an effective educational resource. With further improvements in these areas, it can better support the development of comprehensive language skills and 21st-century competencies among learners.