CURICULUM REFORM

** Curriculum reforms are typically top-down reforms Reform a massive system-wide effort is required that engages parents, communities as well as policy-makers

** Reform is typically used to refer to change instituted from above (Bourke, 1994) Government decision-making can reform education Curriculum reform is really about change to content and organization of what is taught, within the constraints of social, economic and political contexts (Kennedy, 1995)

** Reform of schooling over past decades (Lingard et al, 1993). Some examples of reform: devolution of responsibilities to school principals and school councils school-based curriculum development within national frameworks downgrading external support service for school increased school governance auditing of schools centrally defined policy guidelines

* Some examples of reform in Malaysia ??

CURRICULUM KBSR KBSM Smart Schools PPSMI Transformasi kurikulum (KSSM/KSSR)

** Governments Teacher Unions Media Academics Industry

** OECD sponsored an International School Improvement Projects (ISIP, 1982) involved 14 countries, and examined:the role of school leaders External support school-based review research and evaluation policy development and implementation

** Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics (TEDS-M)

** In UK The National Curriculum introduced in 1988 was based on the Right ideology of a market economy and a consumer-oriented emphasis. In New Zealand based on neo-liberal principles of individualism, deregulation, corporatism, and privatization. In USA strong interest in national standards and the need to develop a core knowledge and skills that all students should be taught. In Malaysia Standard Guru Malaysia (SGM)

** Four main categories (Plank, 1988)

Additive reformsExternal reformsRegulatory reformsStructural reforms

**Additive reforms Involve additional resources and do not affect the organizational character of schools.

Examples:

Fully-funded computer literacy programme pre-school initiativesIncreased salaries

**External reforms Concentrate upon teachers entering the system or students leaving the system. Examples:

Higher test for pre-service teachers Certification changes New high school graduation requirement

**Regulatory reforms Seek changes in schools but not necessarily affecting the basic structure. The emphasis is upon more time and effort to achieve higher students achievements.

Examples:

Longer school day Longer school year more basic skills

**Structural reforms Require alterations to the structure and operation of school.

Examples:

Smaller class Competency tests for teachers

** a) Give examples of reforms that have been proposed over the decades to solve a particular curriculum problem (Plank, 1988). b) Have any proposals been more successful than others? Give reasons.