Foremost Need of Value Driven Water Education in Sri Lankan School Curriculum: Science

This study was carried out in the period of 2010-2015 when the new changes were implemented in the Sri Lankan school curriculum. The purpose of this study was to evaluate teachers’ concerns over the implementation of 5E model under the modernised the competency-based curriculum reforms for geography in Sri Lanka. The Concern based adoption Model (CBAM) was employed as theoretical and conceptual framework underlying the study. The respondents for quantitative approach on Stages of Concern (SoC) consisted of 311 geography teachers from secondary schools in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka. A total of nine (9) geography teachers who has shown their high concerns in the survey was selected for the qualitative methods on Levels of Use (LoU) and Innovation Configuration (IC). The study used adapted instruments such as Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ), basic interview protocol and innovation configuration map from the actual instruments of CBAM. The findings from analysis of SoCQ showed teachers remained at the initial SoC over the implementation of the 5E model. The results from the interviews revealed that geography teachers overall use of the innovation ranged from LoU II-preparation to LoU IVA- routine, whilst many remained at LoU II- preparation. The classroom observations showed that many teachers did not reach acceptable level of teaching in using the 5E model. The study suggested several intervening strategies to take geography teachers to the higher SoC and LoU as well as motivate teachers to practice at the ideal level of teaching using the 5E model. The results of the study are significant at a time when there is a greater attention on introducing new curriculum reforms in the country. In an any curricular reforms, teachers should be given greater attention as they are the main agents of implementation. There should be a continuous evaluation on the teachers’ responses to the implementation of curriculum reforms using a good model like CBAM.

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The role of school curriculum in sustainable peace-building: The case of Sri Lanka

Research in Comparative and International Education ◽

10.1177/1745499918807027 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 570-592 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jeremy Cunningham ◽

Suren Ladd

Keyword(s):

Social Cohesion ◽

Leadership Skills ◽

School Curriculum ◽

Peace Building ◽

Sri Lankan ◽

Active Citizenship ◽

Religious Groups ◽

Whole School ◽

Secondary School Curriculum

The civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in 2009, with total defeat of the LTTE and many thousands of civilian casualties. The country is now engaged in peace-building. Key elements of the secondary school curriculum – truth-seeking, social cohesion and active citizenship – may contribute to this. Six state secondary schools serving different ethnic and religious groups were selected for qualitative research into how far this is the case. Data was collected on the application of knowledge, skills and values in lessons, extra-curricular programmes and whole school culture. The analysis suggests that truth-seeking is weak, with no teaching about the historical roots of the conflict or contemporary issues. There are efforts to build leadership skills and impart democratic values, but the critical thinking and discussion skills necessary for social cohesion and active citizenship are largely absent. The findings are discussed in relation to evidence from Uganda, Cambodia and Northern Ireland.

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