Learner-centred curriculum focuses on the learners. The needs of the learners are assessed properly. Its objectives are set according to the learners’ needs.
The contents are selected based on the learners. The theories and the methods are selected according to the needs of the learners too. The traditional curriculum goes the contrary. It focuses on the teacher. The best teacher is needed here.
Learner-centred curriculum is a competency-based curriculum whereas the traditional curriculum is a knowledge-based curriculum. We need competent learners. Learners who will produce and apply the knowledge learned. Their pride is not the knowledge but in their ability to do the work efficiently. People who have gone through a competent-based curriculum don’t dodge work. They don’t do poor work. They perfect their work. These people don’t stay without a job. They create their jobs if they are not employed. Employers hunger for such people. They are very expensive. They don’t bribe for employment. Employers look for them. Are they looking for you? If not, you need to go through a competent-based curriculum like the new curriculum of South Sudan.
In a learner-centred classroom, learners are active rather than passive. But in a traditional classroom learners are passive and the teacher active. Active learning is the best learning. The one who is active in a learning room is the one who learns. Many teachers and parents blame their children for not learning forgetting it is the teacher who is the problem. Learners will always learn when they are made active. Imagine the teacher doing all the talking, how will the learners learn? Through learner learner-centred curriculum, learners will actively learn in the class. They will own the learning rather than the teacher owning the learning. Through discussion, they will be able to share their experiences. Let the teachers wake up to start using the learner-centred curriculum rather than the traditional curriculum.
Learner-centred curriculum promotes independent learning. In a traditional curriculum, learners depend on the teacher alone. Learning does not take place without the teacher in the traditional curriculum. However, in a learner-centred curriculum, learners make their own learning without the teacher. The role of the teacher in learner learner-centred classroom is to guide and motivate learners. He/she also supervises learning in such a classroom. Learners research for their own learning. They provide their own their answers. They never blame teachers for their failures. They don’t need the best teachers. They need the best learners.
Learning in the real sense does not happen because of the teachers. If the learners forget to own their learning, the contribution of the teacher cannot help them succeed. A teacher motivates the learners of course, but motivation is motivation. Go to schools, if the learners are failing, they will change the teacher. Learners complain each time that their teacher does not teach very well. I have seen schools changing teachers each term but no change at all. We must know that learning must only take place if the learners become independent in their learning.
I like this in the learner-centred curriculum! Learners learn for life. In the traditional curriculum, learners learn for exams. You will never agree to this if you aren’t a teacher. Most teachers in South Sudan will testify to you that learners become serious only when the time for exams approaches. Most attend classes only when the examination timetable is out. They forget that people don’t go to school for exams. “We go to school for life,” said the learner-centred curriculum.
Every parent should know this. Do you see education in the life of your child? Your child can be getting A’s but do you see any transformation in his/her life. Education should transform the lives of the learners. It is through the learner-centred curriculum that learners’ lives are transformed.
Learning does not end with exams. It continues for life. You will see learners throwing their books away after exams thinking learning has finished. We have a big reason to praise the new curriculum of South Sudan which is a learner-centred curriculum. Teachers and parents should promote learning for life. Learning for exams must stop!
The learners learn for understanding in a learner-centred curriculum while in a traditional curriculum, learners learn for memorisation. In your classroom, do your learners understand their learning or do they only memorise? Memorisation is not learning. Learners should understand their learning. Do you see learners creating things? It is because they are in the traditional curriculum. With understanding, learners can answer with the understanding they have. Learners don’t need to memorise, they need to understand.
There is deeper learning in learner learner-centred curriculum with shallow learning in the traditional curriculum. Deeper learning means going beyond the text. Learners go deep in their learning. They can criticise the text. They can critique the text. They analyse the text and discuss what the text means in real life. Shallow learning does not care about the meaning of the text. Learners conclude their learning with what they read without analysing what the reading means in real life. Learning is enjoyed when taken deep. Teachers are asked to promote deeper learning rather than shallow learning.
Before summarizing the points, learner-centred provides more relevant than the traditional curriculum which provides allen knowledge. In learner learner-centred curriculum, learners discuss their own issues. They discuss things happening in the society. The examples they give in their discussion are things they know and known to them. Learning must provide relevant knowledge.
My dear teacher, let’s embrace the new curriculum. The new curriculum is very transformative. It will produce many productive and creative citizens of South Sudan. You will not waste your time if you use the new curriculum in your classroom. Learning will be very simple. You will never waste your energy by shouting in the classroom. Teachers shout a lot in the traditional classroom. You will avoid shouting if you make use of the learner-centred curriculum.
My dear parents, you need to understand the new curriculum. The success of your children happens when you also understand your role in the new curriculum. This curriculum requires learners to research a lot. Many learning materials are needed. Children need a lot of time to do some activities. I have learned that you complain a lot asking why your children are given a lot of activities. You must know that it is the nature of the new curriculum.
The new curriculum which is the learner-centred curriculum if applied in South Sudan will make South Sudan a great nation. Be kind to the nation.