Part III

The Role of Politics in Curriculum Decision Making

What does this statement really mean? Firstly let us try to define curriculum: Curriculum is
defined broadly as a plan to guide instruction or a written document with content and
planned learning experiences for achieving desired goals or ends (Tyler & Hlebowitsh,
2013).

The Phases of a Curriculum are: • Development • Implementation • Evaluation

Curriculums are based on: • A philosophy of education • Culture/Society • The Individual •

Learning Experience

Curriculum Development is defined as a: • planned, • purposeful, • progressive, and •

systematic process in order to create positive improvements in the educational system.

While

Curriculum Implementation is: • The process by which a curriculum is put into effect. &
Curriculum evaluation means the: • Assessment of the curriculum’s components and
processes, checking on whether or not the curriculum’s purpose is being fulfilled or if
students are learning.

Back to the Question !!!!!!!!! What does this statement really mean? • The Role of Politics in
Curriculum Decision Making

Politics can be defined as: The process used by any society to determine how power, wealth,
opportunity , statue and other social goods are distributed to the members of that society.
(Joseph 2015)

In Trinidad and Tobago: Politics in relation to curriculum development and decision making is
a combination of government policies and opinions from educators, students, professional
organizations and other key stake holders.

Examples of: The Role of Politics in Curriculum decision Making The introduction of the
Continuous Assessment Component (CAC) in the 2012-2013 academic year for Primary
Schools. CAC is: The assessment of (Standard Four & Five) students in Character and
Citizenship Education (CCE), Science and Drama, along with Writing English Language Arts
as part of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination.

Examples of: The Role of Politics in Curriculum decision Making The government of Trinidad
and Tobago took a policy decision to change from a two-year teachers’ diploma to a four-
year bachelor degree in education for persons wishing to enter the teaching profession. This
policy decision required a total overhaul of the curriculum to focus on new content and
pedagogy courses for prospective teachers.

Based on Research and interviews done: • The curriculum is too focus on the rights and not
responsibility.(Give E.g.) • The curriculum needs to have more balance in the context of
content vs time. • Allow for more public and professional consultation
Based on the research and interviews done: • The curriculum is too heavily influenced by
governments who are consistently changing • It should allow for more cultural content and
adaptation of foreign influences before the inclusion into the curriculum

Recommendations/New Initiatives. Previous and related experiences should be reviewed to

better understand the many issues that relate to the education system, and the diverse
challenges experienced by teachers.

Recommendations/New Initiatives • Revision of the curriculum to include more student

centered approaches. • More cooperation between government and key stake holder in the
development, implementation and evaluation of curriculum.

References • Glatthorn, Boschee, Whitehead, Boschee, Curriculum Leadership, 3rd Edition

© 2012 SAGE Publications Glatthorn, Boschee, Whitehead, Boschee, Curriculum
Leadership, 3rd Edition © 2012 SAGE Publications • Hough, W. M. (1969). A better
curriculum through negotiation? Educational Leadership, 26(6), 531-34.
References • Joseph, S. (2015) Curriculum Politics in Higher Education: What Educators
need to do to Survive, doi:10.5430/ijhe.v4n3p14

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING!

To God be All the Glory!