ASTI calls for meaningful collaboration with teachers, in place of top-down approach to curriculum policy
A top-down approach to curriculum policy can have lasting negative consequences for students and the education system and should be replaced with meaningful collaboration with stakeholders, ASTI President Miriam Duggan told a conference today.
Speaking at the ASTI conference “Curriculum for the Future: Getting Policy and Practice Right”, the ASTI President said recent experiences from Ireland and further afield demonstrate the risks which come with top-down policy making in education.
“What the past few years have taught us is that a top-down approach to education policy can have serious unintended consequences for students, schools and the education system,” said Ms Duggan
“As the practitioners, teachers understand the realities of policy implementation in the classroom and the possible implications and challenges for students. Teachers must be centrally involved in curriculum development.”
“Education is a social good. We only have to look at the past 60 or 70 years in our own country to find evidence of the power of education to transform society. Sound education policy is vital not just for our students – the next generation of adults – it’s vital for all of society. Any new curriculum policy must be grounded in solid educational theory and the result of meaningful collaboration with stakeholders.”
The conference is being held in the Strand Hotel Limerick today (Saturday, March 4th) and is being attended by second-level teachers from all over the country, as well as others working in education. The aim of the conference is to provide a space for teachers to consider the complexities of curriculum policy in Ireland and how to ensure the voice of teachers is heard.
Speakers at the conference include: Professor Damian Murchan from Trinity College Dublin; Andrea Bradley, General Secretary of the Education Institute of Scotland; and Dr Majella Dempsey of Maynooth University.
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