When it was created in 2012, the world’s newest country was keen to develop its own curriculum. One that would match its aspirations and that would reflect its own heritage and culture.
Only a new country ever has the opportunity to start completely afresh, and to re-think the curriculum from first principles. So these were the starting points for when the Curriculum Foundation began working with the government of South Sudan to produce an enduring, high quality curriculum for all learners.
A key challenge for developing countries like South Sudan is to manage development so that poverty and hunger can be eradicated in a sustainable way. Education is an essential part of meeting this challenge. For this reason, education for sustainable development was one of the first key principles to be explored within the design of the new curriculum…and not just in Literacy and Numeracy.
This new National Curriculum for South Sudan integrates learning about sustainable development across the whole curriculum through ‘cross cutting issues’: Peace Education, Life Skills, Environment and Sustainability.
Cross cutting issues are essentially explored in a variety of ways. Importantly, they provide a rich context for other subjects to be developed within as well as powerful knowledge about sustainable development. This integration ensures a relevant and purposeful approach,placing sustainability at the heart of the curriculum.
Key skills associated with sustainability have also been fully integrated into the curriculum through the promotion of student competencies: Critical and Creative thinking, Communication and Cooperation, Culture and Heritage. Lying at the heart of every subject, they encourage young people to become lifelong learners developing a love and thirst for learning which will allow this new nation to develop in prosperity and harmony.
The Curriculum Foundation presentation will show how this is being achieved.
