or enhancing the quality of teachers, the Government of Pakistan introduced the National Professional Standards for Teachers in 2009. The study was qualitative in nature. A case study design was adopted to conduct the research. A purposive criterion sampling technique was used to select the sample. A semi-structured interview and observation checklist was developed by the researcher. The instruments were validated and improved in the light of expertsÂ’ opinions. Research ethics were observed during the study and before the data collection. Themes were generated and interpreted which were relevant to the research questions of the study. The findings of the study indicate that public sector teachers have command of the subject matter knowledge, but lesson planning and proper assessment are missing. It is being recommended that awareness about the National Professional Standards must be created among public sector teachers and teachers should be made bound for planning their instructions according to standards.

This study investigates the mediating role of metacognition in the relationship between memorization and intelligence among students of secondary schools in South Punjab, Pakistan. Using a quantitative correlational design, data were collected from 393 students selected through stratified random sampling. A structured 50-item questionnaire measured metacognitive knowledge, regulation, memorization strategies, and intelligence. Reliability and validity were ensured through confirmatory factor analysis, while SPSS v.25 and SmartPLS v.4.0 were employed for analysis. Results revealed that metacognition was positively associated with both memorization and intelligence, and significantly mediated their relationship. Male students outperformed females in metacognitive knowledge and intelligence, though memorization showed no significant gender differences. The findings suggest that memorization provides the foundation of knowledge, but metacognitive regulation transforms it into meaningful application. The study recommends integrating metacognitive training into teaching and curricula to enhance reflective learning and foster higher-order thinking among secondary school learners.