Curriculum Issues, Concerns and Responses

ADDRESSING THE FUTURE: CURRICULUM INNOVATIONS

TAKE OFF

Curriculum managers and educational experts are always looking for better ways to achieve learning through teaching. However, certain aspects need to be clarified about curricular innovations.

FOCUS

This presentation will focus on some issues and concerns related on the curriculum.

CURRICULAR ISSUES AND CONCERNS

CURRICULAR ISSUES AND CONCERNS

Why are Filipino learners lagging behind from their counterparts in our neighboring countries of South East Asia in the international test called TIMMS for Science and Mathematics? Why cant our schools significantly raise the level of performance of the learners vis a vis national standards?

CURRICULAR ISSUES AND CONCERNS

Issues on the varied implementation of the curriculum among schools and teachers. Overcrowded classrooms do not provide a good learning environment. Ill prepared teachers, poor attitude towards change, and low morale have been thrown to teachers. Leadership support from principals.

IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
Curricular innovations lack the sense of ownership from stakeholders. Those who are going to implement simply tow the line or follow blindly. Implementers lack full understanding of the changes or modifications that they are doing. The goal is unclear. There is little support from other stakeholders.

SUPPORT ISSUES
Some curricular innovations are results of bandwagon but are not well-supported by managers. Changes and innovations are drastically implemented even if the school is not yet ready.

EVALUATION ISSUES
There is lack of monitoring and evaluation after a new curriculum has been installed. Inadequate monitoring activities to find out curricular strengths or weaknesses and problems. There is no evaluation after the implementation period thus the innovation can not be judged as failure or success.

INNOVATION CONCERNS
With so many changes taking place in the curriculum, many teachers are getting burn out. Teachers can not cope with rapid changes and motivation is very low. They would prefer the good old days and stick to what they had been doing which are not anymore compatible with the times.

COMMUNICATION CONCERNS
Only the managers or the proponents understand the changes. Those who are directly involved merely follow hook line and sinker. The people involved are not empowered.

THE END