The Curriculum Debate: Why It Is Important Today

Overview & Synopsis

This article highlights some of the key issues in current discussions around curriculum, such as values education, inclusive education, competency-based approaches, soft and hard skills, and scientific and digital culture. It starts with the assumption that quality education for all is necessary to achieve social justice, and it looks at curricula as resulting from a process that reflects a societal agreement about the what, why, and how of education needed for the society in the future. Given the crucial tasks facing education systems--they must impart values to achieve a more just and inclusive society, must provide a variety of learning experiences to train a competent and active citizenship, and must ensure quality and equity in learning outcomes--the article argues that educators should first rethink the role of the school curriculum and ensure a wider policy dialogue around curriculum design and development.