First Curriculum Development Training Workshop for new Teacher Education College 4-year degree
19-25 June 2017, Panglong Hall, University of Yangon, Yangon, Myanmar
Through the Strengthening Pre-Service Teacher Education in Myanmar (STEM) project, UNESCO is supporting the Ministry of Education of Myanmar in developing the new curriculum for the 4-year Education College degree. This work commenced in 2015-2016, with a review of the current curriculum used in Education Colleges (ECs) and the development of a Curriculum Framework for a competency-based curriculum for a 4-year degree programme. A Curriculum Core Team (CCT) with Teacher Educators from the Education Colleges and the Universities of Education will draft the new curriculum (syllabi, textbooks, and teacher guides) with assistance from a team of international curriculum experts led by UNESCO.
On 19-25 June 2017, at the Panglong Hall of University of Yangon, 90 participants from Myanmar’s Ministry of Education, National Education Policy Commission (NEPC), Curriculum Core Team (CCT) with Teacher Educators from the Education Colleges and Universities of Education, and development partners came together for the first of six training and drafting workshops in 2017 for the development of a competency-based curriculum for the new Teacher Education College 4-year degree programme.
The first training workshop was supported by experts from the UNESCO International Bureau of Education – UNESCO’s global Centre for Excellence for Curriculum Development (IBE-UNESCO).
The workshop provided the CCT members with a shared understanding of curriculum development approaches globally, in particular competency-based approach and its application. Through lecture-based training on conceptual understanding, participants learned four aspects of competencies (assessment, problem-solving and constructivism, technology and collaboration, and early and second literacies) and practiced the knowledge through practical exercises.
Following introductions and discussion of key concepts, the CCT members tested the new ideas through practical exercises and explored design of a syllabi template for the next stage of drafting subject syllabi.
Biology syllabi group presenting draft syllabus template in plenary at the First Curriculum Development Training Workshop for the new 4-year degree in Yangon in June 2017. ©UNESCO
On the last day, the Union Minister of Education, H.E. Dr Myo thein Gyi paid a visit to encourage the CCT members. Stating the quality of education depends on the quality of teachers, he emphasized the importance of quality of teachers at all levels. Recognizing the critical role each CCT member has in the process with their knowledge and experience, he thanked the participants for their active engagement.
After the weeklong workshop, participants gained a good understanding of what competency-based curriculum is versus content-based curriculum. They had a good overview of different components of curriculum development and examples of how a competency-based curriculum can be developed through study of other countries examples. Also, participants practiced skills in developing competency-based curricula.
The next workshop will focus on further drafting of subject syllabi, aligned with the new basic education subject syllabi.
For more information on the STEM Project, please contact Dr. Dagny Fosen, Teacher Education Specialist, at dm.fosen@unesco.org
