Concept of the Curriculum

Education is a systematic and deliberate effort; the term curriculum generally refers to this plan.
Curriculum is a framework for guiding teaching and learning.
There are many uses of the “Curriculum”. The brief Oxford Dictionary defines it as a “Course of Study”.
It derives from the Latin word “Currere” which means “run, the race, the path, course or runway” Thus
curriculum is a runway of attaining a goal of education. Curriculum may be considered as a plan of an
education program.
If the teacher is the guide, the curriculum is the path. It is prescriptive by nature. It is setout by
Government or the administration of school, college or institute & wide in scope.
The concept if curriculum is dynamic as the changes that occur in society. In its narrow sense, curriculum
is viewed only as a listing of subject to be taught in school. In a broader sense, it refers to the total
learning experiences of individuals not only in schools but in society as well.

According to Cunninghan
“curriculum” is the tool in the hands of an artist (Teacher) to mold his material,(Students) according to
his ideals (objectives) in his studio (School/Institution).”

Hilda Taba
A curriculum as containing a statement of the aims and of the specific objectives; it indicates some
selection and organization of content. It includes a program of evaluation of the outcomes.
Hilda believed that curriculum should be designed by teachers.

According to J.F. Kerr

“All the learning which is planned and guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or
individually, inside or outside the school.”

According to Rugg
“Curriculum is really the entire programme of the school’s work. It is everything that you and your
teachers do”

M.Johnson
“Curriculum is a structured series of intended learning outcomes.

G.A. Beanchamp
“Curriculum is a design of a social group for the educational experiences of their children in school.”

Characteristics
 It is a continuous process.
 It takes place at many level.
 It involves many groups, decisions about a variety of planning and issues.
 It is ultimately concerned with the experiences of learners.

Components / Steps in Curriculum

1. Objectives (Formation of education objectives.
2. Content (Selection of learning experiences.

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3. Methods (Effective and efficient organization of learning experiences.
4. Evaluation

Difference between Curriculum, Syllabus, course and text book

Syllabus
 Syllabus is a Greek term.
 Syllabus is a guideline for the instruction of a subject.
 Syllabus refers to the program or outline of a course of study.
 Syllabus refers to the portions of the study prescribed in a particular subject
meant for a particular course of study. For example, if Physics is a subject
meant for a course of study called „material science‟, then the portions of
study prescribed in the subject of Physics is called as syllabus.
 A list of the content of a course of work simply means syllabus.
 Syllabus is the document that contains all the portion of the concepts covered
in a subject.
 It set for a subject.
 It is descriptive in nature.
 It scope is narrow.
 It is set out by exam board. Examinations will be conducted at the end of the
year only from the particular syllabus of the year in the particular subject.

Components of Syllabus
Standard Competence of Subject
 Learning Outcomes
 Learning Activities
 Time allocation
 Resources

Course
The series of planned units related to each other is called course.
 It is bridge between the teacher and students.
 It covers the overview of a subject, specific contents, pedagogies and assessment
methods.
 A course is a unit of study within a program.
 Each course is assigned a credit point value which contributes to the overall degree
award.
 On successful completion of your course/s you will be awarded a grade.
 The grades appear on your Official Academic Transcript and count towards the
completion of your degree.
Textbook
The definitions for Textbooks are wide and varied. One common definition is that a
textbook is a printed and bound artifact for each year or course of study.
 They contain facts and ideas around a certain subject.
 A book used as a standard work for the study of a particular subject.
 A textbook is a book containing facts about a particular subject that is used by people
studying that subject.
 A book used as a standard source of information on a particular subject
 A textbook or course book is a manual of instruction in any branch of study.
 Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions.
 School books are textbooks.
 The textbook has its roots in the standardization made possible by the printing press.

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  Textbooks are not like other books.
 Today, textbooks are assembled more than they are written.
 They are not usually written by a single author, nor are they a creative and imaginative
effort.
 They are, in fact, usually specially made by a corporation to follow a set standard
curriculum for a school system or larger organization, such as a province.

Q. Need for curriculum development

Curriculum development

Curriculum development is defined as planned, process of selecting, organizing, executing, and

evaluating learning experiences on the basis of the needs, abilities and interests of the learners
and the nature of the society or community. Every time there are changes or developments
happening around the world, the school curricula are affected.

A curriculum is considered the “heart” of any learning institution which means that schools or
universities cannot exist without a curriculum.

Curriculum role as observed in the National Education Policy 1979 should aim at enabling the
learners to acquire knowledge, develop concepts and train skills, attitude, social, cultural values
and all around development of personality.

Need for curriculum development further includes;

1. Developing Democratic Life

Most important demand of the present society on our education is the development of
democratic values by the development of every individual according to his capacities and faith in
democratic principles, development of responsible citizens and encouragement of leadership at
all level.
2. Raising Standard of Living
The Nation’s economic growth is another need for curriculum development to uplift the living
standards of his citizens. By improvement of productive efficiency and full use of manpower,
natural resource and opening up more channels of employment (Technical education).
3. National Integration
Supreme importance to Pakistan today is the promotion of National integration. According to
the Education Commission 1959, we have to cultivate a spirit of tolerance, mutual respect, faith
in the unity and learn to respect every faith between the people of Pakistan of all provinces.
4. Modernizing the Society

New Pakistan’s image of her future is closely tied up with advance in science and technology.
This shall have to be reflected in our education system by Teaching collaboration and
communication.
5. Leading a cultural Revival
Our people could muster to bring about cultural revival through education. The people of
Pakistan take a justifiable pride in Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage and carry on the good
tradition and Islamic values. We must cultivate an appreciation for truth and beauty in every
aspect of life according to the teaching of Islam.

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Q. Principle of Curriculum Development
1. Universality of Education
Continuation of the universality of education is the core of curriculum development. It
should boost the “Education for all” appeal of our time.
2. Truthful and Realistic
The very spirit quickens life in the curriculum and instruction is the honest and realistic
learning concepts. These learning concepts bear upon human affairs and conduct, they
certainly affect human life.
3. CHILD CENTEREDNESS
Child learn from experience and activities. Needs of the child are satisfied and interest
motivation is maintained. Curriculum should be according to the needs, interests, capability
, capacity, aptitudes, attitudes and abilities of the pupils.
4. COMMUNITY CENTERDNESS
Social needs and local needs of the learner should be taken into account.
5. ACTIVITY Based
Curriculum must be full of activities. Should be a collection of experiences of practical
activities, the student might learn with his personal efforts and experience.
6. INTEGRATION
Should integrate child’s activities and needs, on the other hand, the needs of 21st century
should be there. Cognitive, effective and psychomotor objective and abilities.
7. FORWARD LOOKING
Capability of adjustment in different circumstances of life.
8. CONSERVATIVE
Cultivate a sense of respect for his traditions and culture. To know his past culture and
traditions. Preserve the culture and traditions of the past should be these to that it is
transmitted to next generation.
9. MOTIVATION
Interest and motivation will be developed of the child finds that the subjects in the
curriculum will satisfy it. Therefore curriculum should be goal directed.
10. MATURITY
The curriculum should be suited to the mental and physical development of the pupil.
11. PREPARATION FOR LIFE
Student may prepare themselves for there future life. Overall personality development.
12. ELASTICITY, FLEXIBILITY AND VARIETY
Should not be rigid but should be flexible to suit the changing needs of the people and the
society.
13. COMPREHENSIVENESS
A verity of subject to satisfy a variety of pupil of different communities should be there.
Besides, the curriculum should be comprehensive to cater to the needs and total
development of the child.
14. BALANCE
Curriculum should maintain proper balance between the direct and indirect experiences.
15. UTILITY
Curriculum should be of practical use to the pupil and hence should maintain vocational and
technical base. Emphasis should be given to work experiences.

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Question: What is curriculum development?
Curriculum Development can be defined as the systematic planning of what is taught and
learned in schools as reflected in courses of study and school programs.

History of curriculum Development

The idea of curriculum is hardly new but the way we understand and theorize it has different
over the years and there remains considerable dispute as to meaning. It has its origins in the
running. It was, literally, a course.

Which is old curriculum?

1. Subject Centered
2. Broad field curriculum
3. Conservative core curriculum

Which is modern curriculum?

1. The child Centered
2. Activity and experience centered curriculum
3. Community centered curriculum
4. Progressive curriculum
5. Problem-oriented curriculum

Islamic concept of curriculum

According to Islam, basic values are permanent. In traditionalism, sources of values are
traditions of their fore fathers, While is Islam, pleasure of ALLAH is the source of Value.
According to Islam only the prophetic knowledge is absolutely reliable.

Islamic concept of curriculum contained in the Quran and Sunnah. Knowledge gained through
other sources will also be tested on this criteria (Quran & Sunnah) and may conditionally made
a part of curriculum.

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Question: Factors that Affect the Curriculum Development

Curriculum development is influenced by a multitude of factors. Several factors affect all
curriculum development in meeting the needs of 21st century learners in both organized
academic settings and corporation learning centers.

1. Political
2. Social
3. Economic
4. Technological
5. Environmental
6. Child Psychology

Social
The Society has its own expectations about the aims and objectives that should be considered
when designing the curriculum. It also has an opinion of what the product of the school system
should look like. It is therefore necessary for curriculum designers to take in to account these
social considerations. Social diversity including religion, culture and social groupings affects

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curriculum development because these characteristics influence types of topics and methods
for teaching information.

Example; Subjects which has gender education and political economy have proved difficult to
include in the curriculum because of the resistance from some religious groups.

Political
Politics affect curriculum development in many ways. How politics influences curriculum design
and development starts with funding. Both private development starts with funding. Both
private and public educational institutions depend on funding for hiring workers, building and
maintaining facilities and equipment.

Politics affects curriculum development from defining goals, interpreting curricular materials to
approving examination systems,

Economic
Economics influences curriculum development. Curriculum developed for in house training in
corporations focuses on educating employees for promotions that bring better returns in
profits. Nations financing education expect an economic return from educated students
contributing to the country's economy with global competition abilities in technical fields.

Technological
Technology driven curriculum development is the norm of the 21st century. The computer
technology of the 21st century influences curriculum development at every level of learning.
Learning centers and classrooms increasingly provide computers as mandatory interaction for
studies among students. Technological multimedia use influences educational goals and
learning experiences among students.

Technological Example: Undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer technology increases

in popularity.

Environment
Environment issues affect curriculum development. World awareness and action toward
reversing and ending pollution continues affecting curriculum development. Typical affecting
curriculum development. Typical elementary classrooms teach recycling and healthy
environmental practices.

Environment Example: Higher education in the sciences offer environmentally focused

degrees.e.g Environmental degree ,bio-technology.

Child psychology
Many students with a masters or PhD degree in developmental psychology work in educational
settings as developmental psychology work in educational settings as school psychologists,
which makes sense when school psychologists, which makes sense when considering the
emphasis placed on the formative years. However, there are several developmental psychology
concentrations available on which students can focus: Developmental Studies for Educators
Aging Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence Lifespan
Development Biological Bases of Development.

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Child psychology Example: The developmental psychology curriculum examines the changes in
personality, cognitive ability and behavior throughout the lifespan. Therefore, in addition to
preparing themselves for a rewarding career, students enrolled in developmental psychology
curricula will also learn and understand more about themselves as they study the scientific
conclusions made by experts.

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