Current Issues in Curriculum Implementation- Chapter 5 -prepared by:John, James, Roland, Ash- PISMP SEM 8 -

Q1: Define curriculum implementationCurriculum implementation is the process of putting into practice the officially prescribed courses of study, syllabuses and subjects in order to help the learners acquire knowledge or experience.Implementation takes place as the learner acquires the planned or intended experiences, knowledge, skills, ideas and attitudes that are aimed at enabling the same learner to function effectively in a society.

Q2: Outline factors that influence curriculum implementationTeLeRISCIA

Q3: Distinguish determinants of curriculum implementation.

Factors that influence curriculum implementation

The learnersThe learners hold the key to what it is actually transmitted and adopted from the official curriculumThe learner factor influences teachers in their selection of learning experiences, hence the need to consider the diverse characteristics of learners in curriculum implementations.For example, home background and learner ability can determine what is actually achieved in the classroom.

Resources materials and facilities

Interest groups

The school environment

Culture and ideology

Instructional supervision

Assessment

Q4: Explore issues in curriculum implementation & relate them to Education for All (EFA) 2015 (UNESCO)

LITERACYLiteracy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. Progress has been slower towards EFA goal 4 than towards other goals. Nearly 781 million adults are deficient in literacy skills. Analysis of these 73 countries shows the projected change by 2015 is faster for females than for males.

ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAccess to education is the ability of people to have equal opportunity in education, regardless of their social class, gender, ethnicity background or physical and mental disabilities. Based on the goals set in Education for All (EFA) by 2015 all children, particularly girls, children in difficult circumstances and those belonging to ethnic minorities should have access to and complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality. Nevertheless, it will not have been realized by 2015 due to demographic pressures, conflict situations and marginalization of various socio-economic groups.

EQUITY IN EDUCATIONRacial equity in education means the assignment of students to public schools and within schools without regard to their race. This includes providing students with a full opportunity for participation in all educational programs regardless of their race.Gender discrimination in education has been very evident and underlying problem in many countries, especially in developing countries where cultural and societal stigma continue to hinder growth and prosperity for women.Since 2000, progress towards gender parity in primary education has been uneven. The target of gender parity in primary enrolment by 2005 was missed, while only 69% of countries will have achieved it by 2015. In secondary education, only 48% of countries will have reached gender parity by 2015.

Q5 : Identify and discuss the current issues in curriculum implementation in the Malaysia context

Technology InnovationsA Technological Innovation System can be defined as a dynamic network of agents interacting in a specific economic/industrial area under a particular institutional infrastructure and involved in the generation, diffusion, and utilization of technology. Some types of technology used in the classroom are the use of computers in the classroom, creating class websites and blogs smart interactive whiteboards and online media.

Unity Malaysias unique diversity - ethnic, religious, and cultural - has always been its greatest strength, and its greatest challenge. As a shared space for all Malaysians, schools have a unique potential to be a place to foster unity. The challenge is that to date, the system has struggled to measure unity in a systematic manner. The best available data suggests that student and teacher diversity in National schools has decreased, although there is still a fair degree of interactivity across ethnicities inside and outside the classroom.

Student enrolment in the overall public education system remains broadly reflective of national demographics. However, there are specific schooling options that have homogenous environments. For example, primary school students across all options are in highly homogeneous environments. The challenge is that these homogeneous environments make it less likely for students to receive exposure to students of different cultures and ethnic groups, and thus less likely to develop the respect for diversity critical for unity.

Special NeedsSpecial needs education is the practice of educating students with special needs in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings. These interventions are designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and their community, than may be available if the student were only given access to a typical classroom education.

Individual NeedsA special education program should be customised to address each individual student's unique needs. Special educators provide a continuum of services, in which students with special needs receives varying degrees of support based on their individual needs. Special education programmes need to be individualised so that they address the unique combination of needs in a given student.

Instructional StrategiesDifferent instructional techniques are used for some students with special educational needs.Instructional strategies are classified as being either:Accommodations (An accommodation is a reasonable adjustment to teaching practices so that the student learns the same material, but in a format that is more accessible to the student)Modifications (A modification changes or adapts the material to make it simpler)