Curriculum and Instruction, Education

The Meaning and Importance of Curriculum Development

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This article explains the definition of curriculum development, and its importance in school, country, and society, in general.

Before I discuss the definition of curriculum development, let me describe to you first the importance of curriculum. A curriculum is considered the “heart” of any learning institution which means that schools or universities cannot exist without a curriculum. With its importance in formal education, the curriculum has become a dynamic process due to the changes that occur in our society. Therefore, in its broadest sense, curriculum refers to the “total learning experiences of individuals not only in school but society as well” (Bilbao et al., 2008).

Definition of Curriculum Development

Curriculum development is defined as planned, a purposeful, progressive, and systematic process to create positive improvements in the educational system. Every time there are changes or developments happening around the world, the school curricula are affected. There is a need to update them to address the society’s needs.

To illustrate this contention, let’s trace back history.

During the ancient times, people taught their children knowledge and skills to survive by catching fish or hunting animals for food. They had no formal education during that time, but their children learned and acquired the knowledge and skills for survival. So, during that time, they already had a curriculum that other educators call as, the saber-tooth curriculum. This type of curriculum refers to a kind of curriculum that existed during the ancient times in which the purpose of teaching was for survival.

However, when the effects of discoveries and inventions became inevitable, ancient people’s way of life had changed for the better. As a result, education became formal, and curriculum development evolved as systematic, planned, purposeful and progressive, even today.

Importance of Curriculum Development

Curriculum development has a broad scope because it is not only about the school, the learners, and the teachers. It is also about the development of society in general.

In today’s knowledge economy, curriculum development plays a vital role in improving the economy of a country. It also provides answers or solutions to the world’s pressing conditions and problems, such as environment, politics, socio-economics, and other issues of poverty, climate change, and sustainable development.

There must be a chain of developmental process to develop a society. First, the school curriculum, particularly in higher education, must be developed to preserve the country’s national identity and to ensure its economy’s growth and stability. Thus, the president of a country must have a clear vision for his people and the country as well.

For instance, in the Philippines, if President Aquino would like the country to become the Asia-Pacific’s tourism hub, then the school curriculum must be developed along that line. Curricular programs for higher education can be crafted in such a way that it will boost the tourism industry. For example, different models may arise such as edu-tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, medo-tourism, biz-tourism, techno-tourism, agri-tourism, archi-tourism, among others.

If universities have curricular programs that are innovative and in demand in the local or global markets, many students even from foreign countries will enroll. A higher number of enrollees would mean income on the part of the universities. As a result, if the income is big, it can be used for teachers’ promotion, scholarship, and remuneration. It can also be used in funding research and development endeavors, and in putting up school facilities, libraries, and laboratories.

I believe that the country’s economy can improve the people’s way of life through curriculum development. And to develop it, curriculum experts or specialists should work hand in hand with lawmakers such as senators and congressmen, the local government officials, governors, mayors, among others. Likewise, business communities and industries, and other economically oriented players in society may be engaged in setting and implementing rules and policies for educational reforms.

Hence, curriculum development matters a lot in setting the direction of change in an organization, not only at the micro but also at macro levels. As long as the goals and objectives of curriculum development are clear in the planner’s mind, cutting-edge achievements in various concerns can be realized.

For additional information on curriculum development, please read Edecolepmentalism: a Personal Philosophy of HIgher Education, and Translating the Edecolepmentalism Philosophy Into a University’s Vision, Goals, and Program Objectives.

Reference

Bilbao, P. P., Lucido, P. I., Iringan, T. C., and R. B. Javier (2008). Curriculum development. Philippines: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

© 2014 December 13 M. G. Alvior

Cite this article as: Alvior, Mary G. (December 13, 2014). The Meaning and Importance of Curriculum Development. In SimplyEducate.Me. Retrieved from https://simplyeducate.me/2014/12/13/the-meaning-and-importance-of-curriculum-development/

168 thoughts on “The Meaning and Importance of Curriculum Development”

      2. Helo miss Mary please help

        With ths following learning theories,mental disciplone theory,natural unfoldment theory,behavoirisn and cognitivism.
        Can you please explain how each theor’s philosophical outlooks help in relation of curriculum design and development in schools

      4. Hi Mary,

        I am doing some research in this area. I see you have only one reference at the end of your article. I was just wondering if this a reflection of how little work has being done in that area? I was wondering because I am finding it hard to find an research in this area.

        Regards
        Chris

        P.S. I am looking forward to reading your book

      1. Hi Mary,

        I am doing some research in this area. I see you have only one reference at the end of your article. I was just wondering if this a reflection of how little work has being done in that area? I was wondering because I am finding it hard to find an research in this area.

        Regards
        Chris

        P.S. I am looking forward to reading your book

      2. Thanks very interested. But please may I know how is the curriculum design serve the society?

    1. Dear Kevin, Thanks a lot. Please pray that I have more time to write because I am also a very busy person.

      Reply

  13. Hi, friends i really like this article and i will keep up try to make an effective contribution to you all.

    Reply

  14. Hi friends, i believe that curriculum has a great important to determine the achivement, planned, and well organise level of study in schools.
    Reference:
    zaharaddeen Auwal Jikamshi (2016)

    Reply

    1. Hi, Meech. I love to write more but as the moment, I am not physically well. Please pray that I get well soon and able to write in this site.

      Reply

  24. I am so pleased reading your article , I was just called up to offer the “Introduction to curriculum development and teaching” I never knew how to go about it, but when I read through your article I was so enriched and hoping to give the best of what is expected of me to these starter class of University students.
    Stay blessed
    My regards

    Reply

  25. Hello Dr. Marry,
    You have really published a great book for researchers and educators of curriculum. I am highly interested to buy an electronic copy of “THE MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF CURRICULUM development”. However, I have tried but it seems I didn’t find the right link. I would be grateful if you could send me the direct link, please. I appreciate your prompt and positive response.
    Very best regards,
    Mubarak

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Sir Mubarak. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me through my email. God bless and happy reading!

      Reply

  26. Hi Dr. Marry! thank you for the Article. im started to study this article because this is one of my subject. the Curriculum development.

    Reply

  27. Hi madam, Am Shechambo John excited to read saber- tooth curriculum, a useful material for tracing the foundation of curriculum development

    Reply

  28. hello maam mary . thakyou for that article but I have a very simple question that makes me confuse . tsarr ihihi .. Are sabre-curriculum and saber curriculum thesame ?

    Reply

  32. Hello Dr. Marry
    May I get some definition about curriculum development based on experts (min. 5 experts)?

    Thanks for a lot of article, really helpful me

    Reply

    1. Hello, Salmini. There are many weaknesses because curriculum development is highly political. If you have no strong influence or if there is no support coming from the Ministry of Education / Commission on Higher Education, the Teacher Education Council, the teachers, students and other stakeholders, it is difficult to develop a curriculum.

      Reply

  38. Hello ma’am, I’m so appreciated by your talented in this article, I have learnt too much! please enlighten me and I need more knowledge about Curriculum Development, If you have more information about curriculum, please inform me… thank you so much ma’am, I want to see you in personal. ^_^

    Reply

  40. Mamzy, I’m so sorry but I don’t have enough time to answer your questions. Perhaps, I could write an article about the topics you raised.

    Reply

    1. Hi, Reymark. You must know the different types because all schools have different purposes and the classes in most schools have different types of students. Each curriculum type serves the school’s purpose.

      Reply

  45. Hi, Chami Kiondo. How are you? Can you tell me about yourself? I have so many readers and pardon me if I couldn’t exactly remember you. Thanks so much.

    Reply

  48. Dr. Mary, alot of thanks for your great efforts. More grease to your elbow. God bless you more. Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi, Bruce. I’m Dr. Mary Alvior. As to your question, stakeholders have influence in curriculum planning. They can suggest or even prescribe the kind of curriculum designs, mode of delivery, contents, etc.

      Reply

    1. Hi, Nicholas. If you read thoroughly my article above, you would know the relevance of curriculum development to the current educational system.

      Reply

  58. Please i will like to know the instructional considerations in curriculum development. You can please refer me to a site. Thank you. Do you know Prof. Grace Offorma?

    Reply

    1. Hello, D. I don’t know Prof. Grace Offorma. Or maybe she is one of my network. As to your question, it seems vague to me because I can’t contextualize it yet.

      Reply

      1. I will like to have an overview of Instructional Resources and how it’s effect on Students performance

    1. Hi, Rabi. I am not so confident with my answer but I think one thing that we have to consider as an international aspect of curriculum is the culture. The curriculum must be culture-sensitive.

      Reply

  62. Thanks
    But i can see that your importance of curriculum development are based only on the economy.
    How do students and teachers benefit from this curriculum development

    Reply

    1. Hello, Mulinzi. Yes, it is more on the economy and that’s the uniqueness of my article and idea. Now, it is getting popular. The idea is to craft a curriculum that would boost the economy. Once you know that kind of curriculum then find out how to make it beneficial to the teachers and the students. The bottomline is we need to prepare our students ready to work. Equip them with knowledge and soft skills as well. But in the future, we don’t need knowledge because robots can do our work. We only need soft skills.

      Reply

  64. please I will like to use your medium to ask this question: With relevant examples, account for the development of the curriculum at the level of school administration in Ghana.

    Reply

    1. Hello, Peter. I’m not particular with the school system in Ghana. I think other readers can answer you. To our readers, you can probably help Peter.

      Reply

  65. This is helpful material. We are developing a curriculum for early childhood development. We are using your notes aes a guide. Timothy

    Reply

      1. I like your articles on curriculum development Dr. Mary.How do I get more information on importance of curriculum development?

  67. Hi Ma’am,

    I’d like to ask does Course of Study and Curriculum are the same?

    Looking forward for your response.

    Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hi, Ricovil. Yes, curriculum and course of study are the same but course of study is only an example of curriculum.

      Reply

  69. Thanks ma,i really enjoyed reading your article.can you help tell me the factors that influence curriculum development?

    Reply

  70. as curriculum student this piece of information was useful and i believe such article widening ours view more further as field of study.

    Reply

  71. So if the flower that you just draw is inserted in the opaque
    vase, you will need to imagine inside the bottle under the stalk
    what sort of shape ought to be so that you simply can draw the proper
    position and also the proportion of flowers and stems. The whole picture do not have those grace
    and type depicted by classical sculpture painters but much more of painstaking and weakness.

    Although the flowers are very important areas
    of the painting, they can be not the target from the painting, so they are acting more as a planar pattern.

    Reply

  72. Hi Dr Mary,I am a student curriculum specialist,and I recently wrote an essay about curriculum development process.Your article really helped me to go about the essay and understand the relevance of curriculum development .I owe the grade I got to you. Thank you,continue educating.I will be here to support

    Reply

    1. Thank you Safiya. Please help us pray that we are given good health and time to keep this site. Help us also popularize this site in your country. Again, thank you so much.

      Reply

  74. Hi, Ma’am Mary, what are some of the concepts of curriculum evaluation and implementation? Also help me on knowing the determinants of curriculum design!

    Reply

      1. Dr Mary thanks for being available. I have a question.
        What is the importance of change and innovation in curriculum development?

  80. Dr Mary thanks for being available. I have a question.
    What is the importance of change and innovation in curriculum development?

    Reply

    1. Hello, Earnest. Change and innovation in curriculum development are essential. If there is a trend happening around the world, curriculum must change. It is also technology and industry driven. On the other hand, the change and innovation can be attributed to the ideas of curriculum developers. They can change the educational system or policy and that contribution can directly affect the society in general.

      Reply

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