If a curriculum is going to be relevant it must respond to the charges in society. The relevance and effectiveness of a curriculum which will be good for school instruction must thus take into consideration the changes in society; society should be given an opportunity for inclusion of its aspirations.
It becomes important that the curriculum is constructed in light of the factors that are present in society and how these factors change over time such as the culture and the availability of resources and the ideology of a nation. This essay will thus discuss the view that effective curriculum must respond to changes in society.
Table of Contents
1. DISCUSSION OF THE VIEW THAT EFFECIVE CURRICULUM MUST RESPOND TO CHANGES IN SOCIETY
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the essential requirement for educational curricula to remain relevant and effective by continuously adapting to the evolving socio-political, cultural, and ideological landscape of society. It aims to analyze how factors such as national ideology, political shifts, institutional structures, and resource availability necessitate dynamic curriculum planning and implementation.
- The role of national ideology in shaping educational frameworks.
- Political influence on the direction and structure of school curricula.
- The impact of societal values, religion, and culture on educational content.
- Institutional management and school culture as drivers of curricular change.
- The critical importance of resource availability (human and material) for successful implementation.
Excerpt from the Book
DISCUSSION OF THE VIEW THAT EFFECIVE CURRICULUM MUST RESPOND TO CHANGES IN SOCIETY
Farrant (1980:24) defines curriculum as "all that is taught in a school including the time tabled subjects and all those aspects of its life". If a curriculum is going to be relevant it must respond to the charges in society. The relevance and effectiveness of a curriculum which will be good for school instruction must thus take into consideration the changes in society; society should be given an opportunity for inclusion of its aspirations. It becomes important that the curriculum is constructed in light of the factors that are present in society and how these factors change over time such as the culture and the availability of resources and the ideology of a nation. This essay will thus discuss the view that effective curriculum must respond to changes in society.
One of the factors that an effective curriculum must consider is the ideology of a society or nation. An ideology is a way of thinking which forms a basis for an economic or political system. The ideology of the nation will determine the curriculum a country will offer and this will change the way people perceive things. Ideology can be described as the strong beliefs and ideas that a society possesses. Changes in ideological perspectives in society also influence the effectiveness of a curriculum and thus must be considered in any well meaning curriculum planning, development and implementationprocess. Kelly (2006:99) agrees with this and says "Curriculum planning must be a commitment to an ideology of knowledge, of education, of society and of humanity". Thus society's needs and aspirations must be considered in an effective curriculum, a curriculum must respond to the needs and challenges that society is faced with. What people believe, their ideas and goals must be taken care of by the curriculum planners. For example, in the early when Zambia gained her independence, humanism the ideology of the new government was embedded in the education curriculum system
Chapter Summary
1. DISCUSSION OF THE VIEW THAT EFFECIVE CURRICULUM MUST RESPOND TO CHANGES IN SOCIETY: This chapter establishes the necessity of aligning curriculum design with societal changes, focusing on how ideological, political, cultural, and material factors dictate the effectiveness and relevance of educational systems.
Keywords
Curriculum, Society, Ideology, Education, Curriculum Planning, Politics, Culture, Religion, Institutional Change, Humanism, Implementation, School Culture, Educational Resources, Socio-political, Curriculum Effectiveness
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core argument of this work regarding curriculum development?
The work argues that for a curriculum to be effective and meaningful, it must be dynamic and responsive to the continuous changes within a society, including its evolving ideology, cultural norms, and political structure.
What are the primary factors that necessitate curriculum adaptation?
The primary factors identified include national ideology, political shifts, religious values, institutional management, cultural norms, and the availability of both human and material resources.
What is the ultimate goal of the curriculum planning process described here?
The goal is to ensure that education reflects the needs and aspirations of the society it serves, fostering relevant skills and values while remaining adaptable to the nation's changing environment.
How does the author characterize the role of politics in education?
Politics is viewed as a significant driver of curricular change, influencing the agenda and structure of education through government policies, party manifestos, and national development goals.
What does the text focus on in its main analytical section?
The main section analyzes how specific societal pillars—ideology, politics, culture, religion, and institutions—function as determinants that shape the content and implementation of an effective school curriculum.
Which key terms best describe the thematic focus of this text?
The text is characterized by terms such as curriculum development, societal responsiveness, educational ideology, political influence, and institutional adaptation.
How is the "two pathways" curriculum used as an example in the text?
The "two pathways" curriculum in Zambia serves as an example of how political decisions necessitate systemic changes, creating dual streams—academic and vocational—to cater to diverse learner needs.
What role does the "ideology of humanism" play in the Zambian context mentioned?
It serves as a historical case study illustrating how a new government's ideology was deliberately embedded into the national education system upon independence to align with the country's new social order.
Why is "teacher support" considered vital for curriculum innovation?
The text highlights that because teachers are responsible for the daily management and execution of institutional strategy, their understanding and approval are essential for the successful implementation of any new curriculum.
- Quote paper
- BBA John Kombe (Author), 2015, An Effective Curriculum Must Respond To Changes In Society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/316693
