Examining the perceptions of curriculum leaders on primary school reform

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1020-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan CK Cheung ◽  
Timothy WW Yuen

In an effort to enhance the quality of teachers and teaching, and to lead internal curriculum development in primary schools, the Hong Kong Education Bureau created a new curriculum leader post entitled primary school master/mistress (curriculum development) or PSMCD for short. The main purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of these curriculum leaders on their competence in leading the primary school reform. Using a stratified random sampling technique, 125 curriculum leaders were chosen to participate in the current study. Survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings of the study suggest that PSMCDs in general supported the goals and the rationale of the reform. In addition, they also agreed that moderate progress had been made in implementing the curriculum reform in their school. Though progress had been made in many areas, our findings have highlighted several key challenges that these PSMCDs faced in performing their roles. These challenges include heavy workload, learner diversity in the classrooms, the use of diversified modes for assessment, and having too many reforms at the same time. Implications and recommendations are discussed.

Author(s):  
Soegeng Wahyoedi ◽  
Saparso Saparso ◽  
Melitina Tecoalu ◽  
Hery Winoto Tj

To survive in the competition, educational institutions must maintain the quality both in terms of the teaching staff used and in terms of the learning provided to students. This study examines the effect of service quality, learning quality, and promotion strategies on parents' decisions in choosing primary schools for their children. Purposive sampling technique was used in the data collection process, where the respondents were the parents of students from ABC primary school as many as 100 respondents. The test results show that the quality of the teaching staff, the quality of the learning methods used, and the school's promotion strategies are essential aspects that parents consider in determining the primary school for their children. 


Author(s):  
R.G Kothari ◽  
Mary Vineetha Thomas

Evaluation is widely acknowledged as a powerful means of improving the quality of education. The introduction of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) is considered as one of the major steps taken in this regard to improve and strengthen the quality of learner evaluation. The state of Kerala has been going through a series of educational reforms over the last decade or so and the introduction of CCE in the state is one among them. As emphasized by Kerala Curriculum Framework (2007) the implementation of new evaluation practices focusing on CCE was introduced right from primary to secondary level. Though the state has made all-out efforts to implement CCE in its true spirit, the questions that remain unanswered are that whether CCE has been actually and effectively implemented in all classes, what problems are being faced by teachers while implementing CCE. The present paper is a brief attempt made in this regard and is directed towards answering these questions and giving suggestions for the same. The study has been conducted on teachers of upper primary government schools of Kerala.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-108
Author(s):  
Maša Đurišić ◽  
Vesna Žunić-Pavlović

Introduction. It has long been established that school climate can influence the course and outcomes of education, but the findings of previous research are inconsistent as to which elements of school climate are crucial for positive outcomes. This paper provides a more detailed insight into the individual contribution of the dimensions and determinants of school climate for adaptive functioning of students. Objective. The objective of the research was to consider the patterns of the relationship between the quality of school climate and its determinants (program, process and material) and adaptive characteristics of students. Methods. The research was conducted in five primary schools in Belgrade. The Charles F. Kettering, Ltd. - CFK School Climate Profile was used to assess school climate, and the TRF Adaptive Functioning Profile was used to assess adaptive characteristics of students. Both questionnaires were completed by primary school teachers. Results. Positive correlations were found between the quality of school climate, program, process and material determinants, on the one hand and, on the other hand, adaptive characteristics of students. Based on the results of regression analysis, the program determinants of school climate were singled out as the only significant predictor. Conclusion. The results of this research confirm that a good school climate, and especially school programs and practices in the domain of learning and teaching, can contribute to adaptive characteristics of students. Based on the obtained results, the paper describes the implications for future research and practice in this field.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fisseha Motuma

This study explored lived academic experiences of primary school teachers in teaching reading. It attempted to find out whether primary school English teachers were aware of different thinking and comprehension strategies like cognitive, metacognitive and comprehension strategies: predicting, visualizing, making connections and summarizing. Purposive sampling technique was employed to specify the participants. To collect the required data, focus group discussion and classroom observation were used. Seven experienced primary school English teachers were involved in the study: two of the teachers participated in the classroom observations, whereas the five teachers participated in the Focus Group Discussion. The data collected through FGD were audio-recorded and later transcribed for analysis. The data were analyzed based on grounded theory using open, selective and substantiate coding. The results of the analysis indicated teachers gave little attention to thinking or thought-based teaching of reading comprehension. The teaching focused on textual comprehension instead of research-proved thinking strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-6478
Author(s):  
Ailwei Solomon ◽  
Sizwe Blessing

<p style="text-align: justify;">The teaching and learning of mathematics in South Africa are conducted through the authorised Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT). South Africa has eleven official languages, and English is a Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) from the Intermediate and Further Education and Training (FET) Phase. This study explores teachers' views on code-switching as a communicative technique to enhance teaching mathematics in Grade 4 in selected primary schools in South Africa. This qualitative single case study employed the interpretivist paradigm and social constructivism theory. A convenient purposive sampling technique was used to sample six grade 4 mathematics teachers from three primary schools in the Alexandra township in South Africa. Researchers collected data through the use of semi-structured interviews, which were later analysed and discussed using themes. Findings indicate that teachers often code-switch from LoLT (English First Additional Language) into Home Language (H.L.) to enhance learners' understanding of the mathematics concepts. Researchers suggested the integration of code-switching into the curriculum policy and followed by in-service training for Grade 4 mathematics teachers in code-switching.</p>


1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Muhammad Faisal Qureshi ◽  
Aneeta Rathore ◽  
Nandlal Seerani ◽  
Sumera Qureshi ◽  
Bisharat Faisal ◽  
...  

Background: Children's health is very important for their better learning and timely nourishment everywhere in the world. Malnutrition among school going children has remained a big challenge in under developed countries. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 children of four Government Primary schools of Qasimabad, district Hyderabad after taking the proper consent and administration approval from the head of school. Multi stage simple random sampling technique was adopted. Study was approved from Institutional review board of Health Services Academy Islamabad. Results: Out of total, 217 (51.4%) were boys and 205 (48.6%) were girls. Mean Height of boys and girls were 128.09 cm (±SD 12.90) and 130.36 cm (±SD 12.50) respectively. Mean Weight of boys was 25.27 Kgs (±SD 6.17) while in girls mean Weight was 26.83 Kgs (±SD 7.03). 17.57 cm (±SD 2.34) was mean MUAC for all participants and mean BMI was 15.42 (±SD 2.02). Prevalent of stunting and wasting were 24.4% and 18.3% respectively. While in 13.7% thinness (BMI for age) was seen. Stunting was statistically significant in girls 9-10 year (p value=.015, CI: .118-.823, OR=.311) and 11-≥12 years (p value=.018, CI: .215-.874, OR=.434). Pallor was more in girls (17%) and Dental caries were higher in boys (20.8%). Insufficient breakfast was done by 347 (82.2%), whereas 75 (17.8%) were doing sufficient breakfast. 341 (80.8%) students became ill during last year, out of that 80 (19%) were having history of hospitalization. Conclusion: Poor polices and lack of food aid interventions regarding health of primary school going children was assessed during this study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Yuniz Majidah ◽  
Ike Kusdyah Rachmawati ◽  
Tin Agustina Karnawati

The principal should have caring to improving the quality of education. Such caring should be demonstrated with the will and ability to develop themselves optimally, so the teachers and education personnel can improve their performance. The teacher's performance is influenced by several factors are situational leadership style, work motivation and job satisfaction.The purpose of this research is to know and analyse the influence of situational leadership style, job motivation, and job satisfaction on the teacher's performance, the influence of situasional leadership style and job motivation to the performance of teachers moderated in job satisfaction. The population of this research is the teachers of accredited pre-primary school in Singaraja Cit Bali. The data collection techniques in this research are the observation and distribution of questionnaires. This research uses data analysis methods using SmartPLS software. The results showed that the situational leadership style, job motivation, and job satisfaction affects the teacher’s performance of the accredited pre-primary schools in Singaraja City Bali, and the situational leadership style, and job motivation have no effect the teacher’s performance who are moderated job satisfaction at the pre-primary school accredited in Singaraja City Bali.


This study was carried out to identify the administrative role performances of headmasters of primary schools in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria. The study also identified the challenges faced the headmasters in performing their roles and strategies for handling these challenges. Three research questions were developed in line with the purpose of the study. Three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study is 1471 headmasters and 10,188 teachers, and the sample comprised 150 headmasters and 1000 primary school teachers from the area of study. This sample was drawn using multi-stage sampling technique. A–21 item instrument termed “Headmasters’ Administrative Role Performance Assessment Questionnaire” (HARPAQ) was used by the researcher for data collection. The instrument was first validated by experts and reliability was determined using Cronbach Alpha Statistics and the reliability got was 0.85. The administration and retrieval of instrument were through direct contact and use of research assistants with the respondents. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for the research question while z-test statistics were used for testing the null hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that all the 21 items were accepted by the respondents. Findings on the hypotheses tested revealed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of headmasters and primary school teachers from Ebonyi state on the items presented. Adequate funding, prudency and accountability in fund management, regular leadership training of headmasters, formation of formidable umbrella union for the headmasters to always interact with government on issues of school funding and management, involving the PTA and community in school management among others were recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-122
Author(s):  
Ayu Meryka Santoso ◽  
Yuzarion Yuzarion

This study aims to analyze learning agility in the performance of outstanding teachers in Yogyakarta from the aspects of people agility, mental agility, change agility, and result agility. The method used is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with the following criteria: 1) teacher; 2) aged 27-55 years; 3) have achievements; 4) still active in teaching activities. The sample used is a typical case sample, where the special research subjects are outstanding teachers at SMU Negeri 8 Yogyakarta. Collecting data using structured interviews, then described and identified into several themes. The results showed that outstanding teachers had high learning agility at work. They perform maximum work performance, can take lessons from work experience, and respond to changes with full awareness and enthusiasm for learning to improve skills, knowledge, and self-competence. Social support and goal orientation are needed in building learning agility in teachers to develop. Learning agility plays an important role in improving the quality of teacher performance, so that, the education quality and the learning spirit can continue to be improved and becomes an inspiration for the young generation. 


Author(s):  
Marek Telejko ◽  
Ewa Zender-Swiercz

Most primary school buildings in Poland rely on natural ventilation. This fact is attributed to the age of these buildings constructed more than dozen or even several tens of years ago. Few of them were fitted with a mechanical ventilation system allowing for the adjustment of microclimate parameters. The national requirements for gravity ventilation provide general guidelines, specifying strict description only for the airtightness of windows and doors and the minimum airflow to be supplied to the rooms. The minimum airflow supplied is independent of the number of occupants and purpose of the room. Low indoor air quality (IAQ) can impact occupants’ health and lead to poor productivity or low academic performance. Therefore the provision of good IAQ in classrooms and laboratories is very important. This paper presents the results of the investigation devoted to the quality of indoor air in classrooms of selected Polish primary school. Six primary school in a town with a population of 200 000 inhabitants were involved in the investigations. The participating school buildings were built between 1976 and 1994 and had gravity ventilation systems. The variability of basic IAQ parameters, i.e., temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide level, was analysed and the assessment of the classrooms in terms of microbiological purity was performed. The outcomes confirmed the low quality of the indoor air in these buildings. The maximum value of CO2 concentration amounted to more than 4000 ppm. Certain modifications aimed at improving IAQ were proposed during the investigations. Two solutions were implemented. The results of this study indicate that the proposed solution offers the potential to improve IAQ within classrooms.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document