Curriculum is relevant but needs some change – Gavoka

Our education curriculum is relevant however, it needs some change.

While responding to the questions on the strategic measures taken by the ministry in addressing the issues of outdated education curriculum, Education Minister Viliame Gavoka says that globally we are competitive and succeeding.

Following concerns that our curriculum is outdated, irrelevant and not reflecting the needs of a modern society, Gavoka says our Fijian citizens who have graduated through the system are quite marketable and in demand abroad.

He says this is proof that our curriculum is up to par with the skills needed in the global market.

Gavoka also says strategies are being implemented to ensure that the national curriculum remains relevant, technologically serving and globally competitive so that students acquire concepts from this outcome-based curriculum by applying and reinforcing this at home and in different parts of their lives.

He further says it is unforgivable to create a new subject without much research and global benchmarking in our tertiary institutions as most teachers have limited training to deliver on the newly invented subjects, their teaching and learning.

Gavoka says the curriculum unit was downsized from 60 officers to 19 whereby one officer was expected to handle the task of 2 or 3 curriculum officers.

He says this is quite a load, inconsiderate and more than slavery in many ways.

The Minister says due to the heavy workload of the Curriculum Development Unit, they started with a recruitment in January.

He further says a capable, qualified and competitive curriculum specialist has already begun the necessary work in scoping within and across the key learning areas from Early Childhood Education to Year 13 based on the curriculum perspective which is considered crucial to identifying curriculum gaps including careers, citizenship, education for sustainable development, literacy, numeracy, special needs and spiritual education.

Gavoka says these important perspectives are integrated across the curriculum to ensure meaningful learning takes place in every students journey.

The Minister ensures that curriculum content is culturally relevant and inclusive, representing diverse perspectives and experiences which enables Fijian citizens to adopt the change in society and technology.

When questioned by Opposition MP Premila Kumar on whether work on the national curriculum was being done or not, Gavoka says a framework is being developed and new things have happened.