Definition of Goals

Goals and objectives are categorized at two levels. The first is defining goals and objectives at the curriculum
level. The second one is defining them at the instructional level. Teachers and people involved in the process of
curriculum planning and improvement need to know the difference between the two levels. They also need to
know the level at which each one of them is applicable in the whole process of curriculum development. You as
a teacher should know something about them.

Curriculum Goals
Curriculum goals are purposes or ends stated in general terms without criteria of achievement. People who plan
a curriculum wish students to achieve them after being exposed to or taking a section or all of a programmer of
study. Statements which appear in the preamble of subjects included in syllabus and regulations for Kenya
Certificates of Education should rightly be seen as curriculum goals. They do not specify criteria of
accomplishment at any level of learning.

Curriculum goals and objectives are usually written by curriculum planners at the Kenya Institute of Education.
(KIE). All schools in the country are expected to implement the stated goals and objectives. How every school
implements them is left entirely to the teachers to determine. The following are some of the goals of secondary
school curriculum contained in the Secondary Education Project Document 1984. The secondary school
curriculum should enable the students to:


 Understand his physical environment, its potentials, the factors which control it, and methods
of managing and conserving the environment;
 Understand the basic concepts and principles underlying different methods of utilizing
resources for production of goods and services;
 Become aware of the social environment, its controls, (customs, traditions, beliefs, moral
codes) and the rights, obligations and duties of an individual in the conservation and
commitment of that social environment;
 Discover himself and develop his special abilities by making maximum use of opportunities
for intellectual, social and moral growth;
 Develop the ability to understand, analyze and interpret available data on issues affecting life
and draw valid conclusions;
 Use ideas, concepts and skills acquired in the learning process in diverse ways in preparation
for adaptation to changing social-economic and political situation in the past, now and in the
future.
Characteristics of Curriculum Goals
The following are some of the characteristics of curriculum goals.


 They relate to educational aims of philosophy
 They are programmers. Although they speak to one or more areas of the curriculum, they do
not delimit specific courses or specific items of content.
 They refer to the accomplishments of a group i.e., all students in general, most students
rather than the achievement of individual students.
 They are always stated in general terms that provide directions for curriculum development
 They are broad enough that lead to specific curriculum objectives.

Curriculum Objectives
Curriculum objectives come from curriculum goals. Curriculum objectives are defined as purpose or end, stated
in specific, measurable terms. People who plan curriculum wish students to achieve certain behavior,
knowledge and skills after going through a section or whole programmed. Curriculum objectives provide
opportunities for evaluating the students’ achievements.

Characteristics of Curriculum Objectives

The following are some of the major characteristics of curriculum objectives.


 They relate to the educational aims and philosophy
 They are practical in nature
 They refer to the achievement of groups and not individual students
 They are stated in specific measurable and behavioral terms
 They are refined statements from curriculum goals

Problem-Centered

This approach aims to provide students with relevant real-world skills. Learners are taught how to look at a
problem and come to a solution. Some benefits of this approach are an increased emphasis on critical thinking,
a focus on collaboration, and more innovation in the classroom.
What is assessment in curriculum development?
Curriculum assessment commonly takes place on the success story of the students during the education
period using some ways such as questionnaires, interviews, etc. The existing approaches frequently used are
inadequate to measure the effectiveness of the curriculum as the educational process guideline.