Introduction
The goal of a successful program and effective curriculum development should be to satisfy the
requirements and current demands of the culture, the society, and therefore the expectations of the
population being served. Therefore, curriculum development and therefore the educational reform
process continually undergoes review, revision, and constant change (Johnson, 2001). Curriculum
development are changing rapidly, therefore the involvement of all parties, especially teachers who are
directly involved in school, are important in running the program successful in curriculum development
and revision .
The Importance of Teachers Involvement in Curriculum Development
Doubtless, the foremost influential person within the curriculum implementation process is that the
teacher. With their knowledge, experiences and competencies, teachers are the most important person
to any curriculum development effort. Better teachers support from the Bahagian Perkembangan Guru
helps better training because they're most intimate the practice of teaching and are liable for
introducing the curriculum within the classroom.
When the BPG( Bahagian Perkembangan Guru ) already developed the curriculum, the teachers need to
try to understand and know it. So, teachers should be involved in curriculum development. For instance,
teacher’s opinions and concepts should be incorporated into the curriculum for development. On the
opposite hand, the curriculum development team must consider the teacher as a part of the
environment that affects curriculum (Carl, 2009). Hence, teacher involvement is very important for a
successful and meaningful curriculum development.
Teachers being the implementers are a part of the last stage of the curriculum development process.
This usually happens when there are changes in SPM, PMR or UPSR papers. Teachers are going to be
exposed to the “Teknik Menjawab Soalan”.
The Challenges Teachers Face in Curriculum Development
The teachers’ involvement within the curriculum development process is important in fulfilling the
requirements of society. The method of curriculum development requires teachers to act and reflect on
society's needs in each stage of the event process. Nevertheless, sometimes this process which teachers
are requested to follow is unclear. For instance, in some primary school there are teachers non-qualified
(non optionist ) and lack the required skills in teaching English to participate in curriculum development
in order that they get clear view on the way to conduct the class correctly.
On the opposite hand, in any curriculum implementation process not all teachers will have the prospect
to be involved in these processes. Professional development of teachers is as a crucial factor
contributing to the success of curriculum development and implementation . So, we should always
believe what extent teacher education schemes are needed for prospective teachers to review
curriculum development. Because teachers need to be involved in curriculum development, the teacher
should be given appropriate knowledge and skills that help them to effectively contribute in curriculum
development operation.
As a result, teachers need training and workshops, which are geared toward professional development
to be ready to contribute to curriculum development. There's a crucial point to form efficient in
involvement teacher in curriculum development that's teachers need to be empowered within the
process of curriculum development. This suggests teachers should have improvement and increasing in
many points of them, like experience and autonomy.
Thus, teachers play an integral part within the process of developing the curriculum . The teacher
involved in curriculum organization has many roles and responsibilities. Teachers want to enjoy teaching
and watching their students develop interests and skills in their interest area. The teacher may have to
make lesson plans and syllabi within the framework of the given curriculum since the teacher's
responsibilities are to implement the curriculum to satisfy student needs . Teachers can contribute by
collaboratively and effectively working with curriculum development teams and specialists to rearrange
and compose martial, textbooks, and content. Teacher involvement within the process of curriculum
development is vital to align content of curriculum with students needs within the classroom.
Conclusion
Curriculum development should be viewed as a process by which meeting student needs results in
improvement of student learning. additionally, it can't be stagnant. Curriculum must be a living
document that's in constant flux. It must be adaptable to changes within the educational community
and in society generally. Only then will it's ready to be an efficient change agent within the educational
process. Finally, for schools to achieve success with change and development, they need to believe that
creating a culture of continuous improvement is that the thanks to adapt to changing needs and
conditions. Schools got to continuously assess themselves and have the goal toward self-actualizing.
Thus, schools are never perfect or self-actualized.
References
Blasé, Joseph (August, 1999) Principals’ Instructional Leadership and Teacher Development: Teachers’
Perspectives. Educational Administration Quarterly, Vol. 35, p. 349-378. Carl, A. (2009).
Teacher empowerment through curriculum development theory into practice. Juta&Company Ltd.
Education, Inc.Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction Connecticut State Department of Education. (2006,
November 3).
Guide to Curriculum Development: Purposes, practices, Procedures. In Connecticut State Department of
Education. Fullan, M. (1991).
Curriculum revision that works. In principles of effective change. Retrieved March 10, 2014
