PROBLEMS IN CURRICLUM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN PAKISTAN

PROBLEMS IN  CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT OF PAKISTAN

Keywords: What are the problems of curriculum development?; Problems related to objectives of Curriculum; Problems related to content of Curriculum ; Problems related to methods of Curriculum; Problems related to audio-visual aids; Problems related to evaluation of Curriculum; Recommendation for curriculum development

5.1 problems of curriculum development in Pakistan and suggestions for its improvement

Falling education standard is one of the most favorite topics for discussion at our social gatherings. Everyone has his own views and experiences to narrate and ultimately, express the expression of grief and then recall the good old days when everything was at its best.

It is a known fact that our educational standards are on the decline. We have progressed in quantitative expansion but gone backward qualitatively, in the government policies there are planning and recommendations for the revolutionary steps but the progress in negligible.

We have innovative ideas but unable to implement any positive change effectively. That is why we could not achieve the desired goals. We have many leaders in education but most of them are without dedication to work. We have many schools, colleges and universities but they are working only to award certificates and degrees to the students without changing their attitude. The students are just memorizing facts and information from their text material without developing proper concepts to apply in daily life. Teachers are following conventional methods such as the lecture. Textbook recitation and notes dictation. The innovative methods are not followed even in teacher training institutes. The textbooks are also theoretical ignoring the activities. All these and many more are the curriculum related problems. These problems are identified by various policies along appropriate recommendations.

5.2 Problems of Curriculum Development Process

Look to the various phases or elements of curriculum development process. So many problems can be indicated i.e.

1. Problems related to objectives.
2. Problems related to content.
3. Problems related to methods.
4. Problems related to audio-visual aids.
5. Problems related to evaluation.

1. Problems Related to Objective

The curriculum development is a continuous and dynamic process, having some goals to be achieved through classroom activities.

The effectiveness of curriculum process depends largely upon the extent to which these goals are achieved. If the objectives are formulated in a clear and behavioral terms, their achievement becomes easy. The objectives formulated for the existing curricula are mostly ambiguous and non behavioral such types of objectives can be considered as invalid. Some of the objectives are too broad to achieve and some of them are not related to the socio economic conditions in the country. There are certain objectives that are not according to the psychological needs of the learners.

Ø  Need some clear Goals to achieve in education system and for that need some good objectives

Ø  Current objectives formulated are mostly ambiguous and non behavioral

Ø  Some of the objectives are too broad

Ø  Socio economic conditions is one of the reason in formulation of good objectives in the country, because to achieve good objectives its need financial support.

Ø  Some objectives are not related to psychological needs of students

Ø  Need of behavioral and non behavioral objectives both in education system

Ø  The objective should be narrow down and specific to the actual need of the society

Ø  Objective should be achievable

b.      Problems Related to Content

It has already been mentioned that curriculum development is a dynamic process. So it must be flexible enough to be changed from time to time along with the changes occurring in the society. But in our country, researches in curriculum development are very rare which make it static.

Some of the defects of existing subject matter are as under;

• The content is not selected on the basis of research.
• To content does not help in the achievement of desired goals.
• The content is not suitable to the life situation of the learners.
• There is a lack of horizontal and vertical coordination in various concepts.
• The content does not demand active participation of learners, instead it encourages rote memory.
• Logical sequence (when required) is missing.
• The subject matter does not help in the development of understanding, indicative reasoning and desired creative abilities.
• principle of representative content ignored
• No motivation and interest for students
• Lack of physical and mental activities.
• Lack of Situational analyses
• No teaching methods suggested

c.       Problems Related to Methods

The problems of curriculum development related to methods of instruction are:

• Methods of instruction are not suggested by the curriculum planners.
• Methods of instruction which are being followed in the classroom do not help in the achievement of desired goals.
• Teachers take last interest in inquiry-based methods.
• Participatory or communicative approaches are not followed in the class.
• Methods are not helping the learners to develop various skills.
• The existing teacher training programmes do not fulfill the requirements of the innovative methods.
• Teachers are reluctant to follow activity-based methods.

4. Problems Related to Audio-visual Aids

• Lack of sources and resources in educational institutes affects badly the implementation of curriculum development.
• Teachers are not properly trained in preparation and used of low cost material.
• The curriculum planners have not given any guidelines to the teachers to use the local resources as audio-visual aids.
• Charts should be accurate but it always missing the third dimensional attribute and must be viewed from a fixed position
• The aids must be relevant to the concept need to be developed
• the audio-visual should be interesting for the students
• chalk board is the oldest aid of teaching but chalk is a source of pollution and it all depend on teacher hand writing
• power failure (electricity) problem, it sometime damage audio-visual aids
• Hardware problem in electronic AV aids
• Overburden class room, the problem of visibility of small charts to all students
•  

5. Problems Related to Evaluation

·         Proper evaluation programme is not suggested by the curriculum planners.

·         The test items are not related to the objectives of the relevant course.

·         Most of the test items are ambiguous.

·         Only cognitive aspect is emphasized in evaluation.

·         The content validity is very low in existing evaluation system.

·         The concept of continuous evaluation in to applied.

5.3 GENERAL RECOMMENDATION FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

• The curriculum should base upon research and not on the basis of opinions of experts.
• Some of the enthusiast working teachers should be involved in curriculum development.
• The objectives must be spelt out in specific behavioral terms.
• While setting the objectives, equal weightage must be given to all the domains such as cognitive affective and psychomotor.
• Curriculum should be future oriented to cope with the needs of 21^st century, which is expected to be scientific and technological
• Curriculum should be activity based
• Curriculum must provide a high order of understanding inductive reasoning and application of knowledge in the situation
• Instead of product based instruction, there should be an emphasis  on processes of learning
• Curriculum should be according to the social, cultural and economic conditions of the country
• Teachers guides should be prepared to provide them help in instruction
• Curriculum planner must suggest a proper criteria for evaluation
• The test items must possess a high content validity
• The test items must help in the achievement of desired goals
• The test items should be objectives valid and reliable
•  

Research Proposal / Format

By Sultan Muhammad Khan

The research proposal is a blue print of the proposed project.

The research proposal is a plan of action and a strategy to be carried out according to the objectives of the study

Definition:  A research plan is a detailed description of a proposed study to investigate a given problem.

• It includes the justification for the hypothesis to be tested.
• It shows the detailed presentation of the research steps to be followed in collecting & analyzing the required data & projected time & schedule for each major step.
• It must be completed before a study is begun
• A well-thought-out plan saves time, reduces the probability of costly mistakes & generally results in high quality research

The preparation of a research proposal is an important step. All research institutions require that a proposal must be submitted for approval before work is started on the project

Functions of the Research Proposal

1. It provides guidelines to the researcher for adopting the systematic approach towards the solution of the problems.

2. It provides basis for the evaluation of the proposal by researcher’ and aware the researcher of the problems and difficulties that he/she will have to face in his study

3. It restores confidence in researcher about the feasibility and worth of his investigations.

4.            It motivates the researcher and                moves him to  complete his project and reach his Goal

5.            It also enables the adviser to assess the progress of work of his advisee at regular intervals   

What is not a good proposal

1. problem is too broad and complex
2. If the problem is too subjective and is based on personal opinion

c.    If the problem is of highly controversial

d.    If the problem is too familiar and does not lead to some unknown domain of knowledge

Major elements of the proposal

1.1  Introduction

1.2  background and justification

1.3  Objectives of the study

1.4  Significance of the study

1.5  Research Questions

1.6  Hypothesis

2.1  Research Design

2.2  the nature of the study

2.3  Population

2.4  Sample

2.5  Methods and Tools of Data Collection

2.6  Limitation

2.7  Delimitation  

2.8 Ethical Considerations

2.9 Research Timeframe

References

Ø  Problem of the Study:

                Significant

                Feasible to be carried out

                Opens doors for future investigation

1.1  Introduction

The main purpose of the introduction is to provide the necessary background or context for your research problem. State the research problem, which is often referred to as the purpose of the study.

1.2  Background and justification

Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing with the help of Review of the related literature

A. Reported problem or closely related problems

b.  Research designs of various nature

C. Designs of studies used, including procedures,   instruments etc.

1.3  Objectives of the study

Ø  Realistic

Ø  Add new knowledge

Ø  Related to the topic

1.4  Significance of the study

The importance and outcomes of the study.

1.5  Research Questions

Drawn from the objectives of the study or the topic of the study

1.6  Hypothesis

                a.  Selecting key question(s)

                b. They are reasonable

                c. They are consistent with objectives

                D. They are verifiable

                E. They are testable

Research Procedure/design

This part of the proposal outlines the entire research plan to be carried out. It mainly describes

What must be done?

b. How it will be done?

c. What data will be needed?

d. What data collecting device will be used?

e. How sources of data will be located?

f.  How data will be organized?

g. How data will be analyzed and conclusions drawn?

2.1  Research Design

                What research design you want to use for your                 research.

2.2  The nature of the Study

The nature of the study section is typically the one in which the research design is laid out and discussed. Researcher describe the basic methodology that he /she used (the subjects, how data collected and describe the procedures used for collection of the data

2.3  Population

A research population is generally a large collection of individuals or objects that is the main focus of a scientific query.

2.5  Samples

A sample is a finite part of a statistical population whose properties are studied to gain information about the whole(Webster, 1985).

2.6  Methods and Tools of Data Collection

Method and tools for data collection ( interview, questionnaire)

2.7 Limitations

Limitations are influences that the researcher cannot control.  They are the shortcomings or conditions  that cannot be controlled by the researcher

 2.8 Delimitations

Delimitations are choices made by the researcher which should be mentioned. They describe the boundaries that the researcher set for the study.

2.9  Ethical Considerations

Follow the ethical code of conduct of the research and Keep in view the rights of the participants and protect their data.

Research Timeframe /Time Schedule

Listing of major activities or phases of the proposed study

Expected completion time for each activity or phase

Develop Research Proposal and obtain approval              60 Days

Develop and Improve instrument                                            10 Days

Download Researches                                                                   10 days

Administer instrument and Data collection                         70 days

Data analysis                                                                                      30 days

Research Report writing                                                                              60 days

REFERENCES 

APA style

Format of Research Proposal

Title Page (Topic of the study)

1.1          Introduction

1.2          Background and Justification

1.3          Objectives of the Study

1.4          Significance of the Study

1.5          Research Questions

2.1          Research Design

                The nature of the Study

                Population

                Samples

                Methods and Tools of Data collection

Limitations

Delimitation

Ethical Considerations

Research Methods/Timeframe

REFERENCES

APPENDIXES     

The need for complete documentation generally needs the inclusion of appropriate appendixes in proposals

Appendixes may include

•         Original scales or questionnaires

•         If an instrument is copyrighted, permission in   writing to reproduce the instrument from the     copyright holder

•         Proof of purchase of the instrument

•         Interview protocols.

•         Sample of informed consent forms.

•         Cover letters sent to appropriate stakeholders.

•         Official letters of permission to conduct research.