AMMAN — The adoption of the
Amman-HarperCollins mathematics and science curricula by Jordan's
National Center for Curriculum Development (NCCD)
has stirred controversy, especially following the publication of opinions from
the education sector in our article titled
'Controversy over Collins Curriculum.' In a previous piece, we shed light on the opposition voiced by
parents of public-school students against the Collins Curriculum, which
introduces new "experimental" science and mathematics books for
students in first, fourth, and seventh grades.
اضافة اعلان
In response, Dr. Omar Abu-Ghalyoun, the head
of NCCD's
mathematics curriculum development team, clarified to
Jordan News that
HarperCollins is a reputable publishing house renowned for creating school
textbooks across diverse subjects.
Otherwise, they would not be among the select
few curricula relied upon worldwide by students preparing for the
IGCSE exams.
He emphasized that NCCD had acquired the copyrights for the science and
mathematics curriculum from HarperCollins publishers and had translated,
customized, and localized them to suit the
Jordanian educational system.
Contemporary Constructivism Learning Theory
He underscored the global practice of adopting
this approach, wherein countries procure international curricula, translating
and adapting them. This strategy aims to build upon educational progress made
by leading nations. The HarperCollins mathematics and science curricula are
rooted in the contemporary
Constructivism Learning Theory, which prioritizes
hands-on activities, exploration, and problem-solving over traditional
lectures. This approach nurtures critical thinking and encourages learners to
embrace ongoing challenges.
Despite misconceptions
Furthermore, the HarperCollins curriculum
presents concepts progressively, aligning with the
Spiral Structure of the Curriculum. This enables revisiting core concepts across various grades,
reinforcing understanding. For example, the introduction of fractions occurs
gradually over multiple grades, accompanied by periodic reviews. Despite
misconceptions that this method adds unnecessary content, it effectively
accelerates learning and addresses gaps.
Meanwhile, Mousa Tarawneh, Head of the
Science Curriculum Development team, clarified that the selection of the
HarperCollins curriculum was a deliberate choice based on input from Jordanian
experts. Stringent criteria guided the selection process, culminating in
HarperCollins winning the technical tender for mathematics and science.
Jordan's education system follows a comprehensive framework, encompassing both
general principles and specific subject-based guidelines. These frameworks,
developed by experts and sanctioned by the
Ministry of Education, align with
international curricula.
Tarawneh highlighted the meticulousness of
the translation process by experts and subsequent evaluation by experienced
educators. Focus groups of teachers and supervisors assessed the suitability of
textbooks, followed by rigorous academic reviews by
renowned university professors.
Criticisms attributed to resistance to
departing from the old curriculum
Further endorsement came from specialized
councils at NCCD and the Ministry of Education.
NCCD alleges that criticisms
were attributed to resistance to departing from the old curriculum, despite the
strides made by the new approach.
A survey supported the suitability of the
curricula
Tarawneh revealed that a survey of over 100
high schools supported the
suitability of the curricula, particularly for grade
12 science. The new math curriculum, supervised by Heba Tamimi, includes a
wealth of exercises and problems to enhance understanding and procedural
fluency. The intention is for students, rather than teachers, to engage with these
exercises to optimize learning and class dynamics.
According to her, the new curricula,
incorporates real-world examples and questions to engage students. Tamimi noted
that after a year-long trial period, during which teachers and supervisors
provided feedback, the curricula demonstrated strengths and areas for
improvement. Notably, the detailed explanations within the
science and math curricula facilitate self-directed learning.
Read more Features
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
