Towards a Democratic Algerian Curriculum Development through Secondary School EFL Teachers’ Involvement

Authors

Abstract

This paper seeks to recommend a democratic model to curriculum development in Algeria that involves teachers by combining top-down government directives with bottom-up teachers-based creativities. More explicitly, the paper aims at exploring and identifying perceptions of secondary school EFL teachers’ on their implementation of 2003 curriculum reform. The paper also aims at revealing barriers to their autonomy and involvement in curriculum development in order to pave the way for an understanding and planning towards such involvement. The critical paradigm was the conceptual framework guiding the research with data availed through a questionnaire for teachers and interviews with EFL secondary education inspectors. The findings advocated the existence of imbalanced power relation between the government and teachers with the former controlling and dictating curriculum, and excluding teachers from the whole developmental process.

Author Biography

Ikhlas Gherzouli, Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Sétif2 University, Algeria

Dr. Ikhlas Gherzouli, University Lecturer, Department of English Language and Literature, Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Sétif2 University, Sétif, Algeria

References

Akinbote O. (1999). “NCE Teachers Education Programme for Nigerian Primary Schools; Expectations for the 21st centuryâ€, Teaching and Teacher’s Preparation in the 21st century, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 9-12.

Andrews S. (2004). Washback and Curriculum Innovation. In L. Cheng and Y. Watanabe (Eds.), Washback in Language Testing (pp. 37-50), London, UK. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Apple M. W. (1995). Education and Power (2nd ed.), New York, NY. Routledge.

Asuto T. A., Clark D. L., Read A. M., McGree K. and deKoven Pelton Fernancez L. (1994). Roots of reform: Challenging the assumptions that control change in education, Bloomington, IN. Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation.

Bates R. (2008). “Teacher education in a global context: Towards a defensible theory of teacher educationâ€, Journal of Education for Teaching, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 277-293, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2607470802401388.

Bedouani-Kernane H. (Janvier 22, 2013). “Algérie éducation : Réforme ou faux espoir ?â€, Arabies, available online at : www.arabies.com

Brindley G. and Hood S. (1990). Curriculum innovation in Adult ESL. In G. Brindley (Ed.), The Second Language Curriculum in Action (pp. 232-248), Sydney, Australia: Centre for English Language Teaching and Research.

Chang M. and Goswami J. S. (2011). “Factors affecting the implementation of communicative language teaching in Taiwanese college English classesâ€, English Language Teaching, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 3-12, available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/elt.v4n2p3.

Cheng L. (1997). “How does washback influence teaching? Implications from Hong Kongâ€, Language and Education, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 38-54.

Cheng L. and Watanabe Y. (2004). Washback in language testing: Research contexts and methods. London, UK. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Cheserek G. J. and Mugalavai V. K. (2012). “Challenges and reforms facing Kenyan education system in the 21st century: Integrating the principles of vision 2030 and constitution 2010â€, Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies (JETERAPS), Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 471–478.

Chisholm L. and Leyendecker R. (2008). “Curriculum reform in post-1990s sub-Saharan Africaâ€, International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 28, pp. 195–205, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2007.04.003.

Choi I. C. (2008). “The impact of EFL testing on EFL education in Koreaâ€, Language Testing, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 39-62, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0265532207083744.

CNRSE. (2000). Le rapport de la commission benzaghou.

Cohen L., Manion L. and Morrison K. (2007). Research Methods in Education (5th ed.), London, UK. Routledge.

Cohn M. and Kottkamp B. (1993). Teachers: The Missing Voice in Education, Albany, NY. State University of New York Press.

Coolican (1994). Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology, London, UK. London Bath.

Cooper R., Slavin R. E. and Madden, N. A. (1998). “Success for all: Improving the quality of implementation of whole-school change through the use of a national reform networkâ€, Education and Urban Society, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 385–408, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013124598030003006.

Coultas J.C. and Lewin, K.M. (2002). “Who becomes a teacher? The characteristics of student teachers in four countriesâ€, International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 22, pp. 243-260, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0738-0593(01)00066-9.

Curdt-Christiansen X. L. and Silver R. E. (2012). “Educational reforms, cultural clashes and classroom practicesâ€, Cambridge Journal of Education, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 141–161, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2012.676631.

Darling-Hammond L. and McLaughlin M.W. (1995). “Policies that support professional development in an era of reformâ€, Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 76, No. 8, pp. 597-604, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/003172171109200622.

De Luca C. (1994). The Impact of Examination Systems on Curriculum Development: An International Study, Paris, France. UNESCO, available online at: http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/31_45.pdf

Dean M. (1999). Governmentality: Power and Rule in Modern Society, London, UK. Sage.

Dembélé M. and Lefoka P. (2007). “Pedagogical renewal for quality universal primary education: Overview of trends in sub-Saharan Africaâ€, International Review of Education, Vol. 53, pp. 531–553.

Dilworth M. E. and Imig D. G. (1995). “Professional Teacher Developmentâ€, The Eric Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 5-11.

Etim N. V. and Okey, S. M. (2015). “Teachers’ involvement and role in climate change curriculum development and implementation in Nigerian secondary educational systemâ€, Journal of Modern Management Science & Engineering , Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 21-31.

Fastier M. (2016). “Curriculum change, challenges and teacher responsibilityâ€, New Zealand Geographer, Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 51–56.

Fink A. (1995). The Survey Handbook (Vol. 1), Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage.

Fullan M. G. (1982). The Meaning of Educational Change, Toronto, ON. OISE Press.

Fullan M. G. (1991). The Meaning of Educational Change, New York, NY. Teacher College Press.

Fullan M. G. (1992). Overcoming barriers to educational change. In Changing Schools: Insights (pp. 11-20), Washington, DC. US. Department of Education, Office of Policy and Planning.

Fullan M. G. (1993). Change Forces: Probing the Depths of Educational Reform, London, UK. The Falmer Press.

Fullan M. G. (2001). Leading in a Culture of Change, San Francisco, CA. Jossey-Bass.

Fullan M. G. (2011). The New Meaning of Educational Change (4th ed.), New York, NY. Teachers College Press.

Fullan M. G. and Stiegelbauer S. (1991). The New Meaning of Educational Change (2nd ed.), New York, NY. Teachers College Press.

Futrell M.H., Holmes D.H., Christie J.L. and Cushman E.J. (1995). Linking education reform and teacher professional development: The efforts of nine school districts. Occasional Paper Series. Washington, DC. Center for Policy Studies, Graduate School of Education and Human development, George Washington University.

Galton M. (1998). Making a curriculum: Some principles of curriculum building. In J. Moyles and L. Hargreaves (Eds.), Primary Curriculum: Learning from International Perspectives (pp. 73-80), London, UK. Routledge.

Glass G. V. (2008). Fertilizers, Pills, and Magnetic Strips. Charlotte, NC. Information Age Publishing, Inc.

Hall G.E. and Hord S.M. (2011). Implementing Change: Patterns, Principles, and Potholes (3rd ed.), Englewood, NJ. Prentice-Hall.

Haynes M. (1996). Influences on practice in the mathematics classroom: An investigation into the beliefs and practices of beginning teachers (Unpublished Masters Dissertation). Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Holliday A. (1994). Appropriate Methodology and Social Context, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge University Press.

Ingersoll R. M. (2003). Who Controls Teachers' Work? Power and Accountability in America's Schools, Cambridge MA. Harvard University Press.

Karavas-Doukas E. (1995). “Teacher identified factors affecting the implementation of an EFL innovation in Greek public secondary schoolsâ€, Language, Culture and Curriculum, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 53-68.

Kincheloe J. L. and McLaren P. (2000). Rethinking critical theory and qualitative research. N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research (2nd ed.) (pp. 279-313). Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage.

Lewin K.M. and Stuart J.S. (2003). Researching Teacher Education: New Perspectives on Practice, Performance and Policy, Brighton, Centre for International Education. University of Sussex.

Li L. (2004). “Teacher empowerment in school-based curriculumâ€, Theory and Practice of Education, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 45-47.

Lieberman A., Saxl E. R. and Miles M. B. (2000). Teacher leadership: Ideology and practice. In A. Lieberman, E.R. Saxl and M.B. Miles (Eds.), The Jossey-Bass Reader on Educational Leadership (pp. 339-345). Chicago, IL. Jossey Bass.

Lodico M. G., Spaulding D. T. and Voegtle K. H. (2006). Methods in Educational Research: From Theory to Practice, San Francisco, CA. Jossey-Bass.

MINISTERE DE L’EDUCATION NATIONALE (MINISTERE DES ENSEIGNEMENTS PRIMAIRE ET SECONDAIRE). Ordonnance n° 76-35 du 16 avril 1976 portant organisation de l’éducation et de la formation. Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne n° 33 du Vendredi 23 avril 1976, p.428-432.

MINISTERE DE L’EDUCATION NATIONALE. Décret exécutif n° 12-240 du 29 mai 2012 modifiant et complétant le décret exécutif n° 08-315 du 11 octobre 2008 portant statut particulier des fonctionnaires appartenant aux corps spécifiques de l’éducation nationale. Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne n° 34 du Dimanche 3 juin 2012, p. 13-27.

MINISTERE DE L’EDUCATION NATIONALE. Loi n° 08-04 du 23 janvier 2008 portant loi d’orientation sur l’éducation nationale. Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne n° 04 du Dimanche 27 janvier 2008, p. 6-17.

MINISTERE DE L’EDUCATION NATIONALE. Loi n° 84-09 du 4 février 1984 relative à l’organisation territoriale du pays. Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne n° 06 du Mardi 7 février 1984, p.101-112.

MINISTERE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR ET DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE. Arrêté interministériel du 03 Août 1999 fixant l’organisation administrative de la faculté au sein de l’université. Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne n° 77 du Mercredi 03 novembre 1999, p. 13.

MINISTERE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR ET DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE. Décret exécutif n° 04-371 du 21 novembre 2004 portant création du diplôme de License ‘nouveau régime’. Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne n° 75 du Mercredi 24 novembre 2004, p. 9-10.

Mokua B. (2010). An Evaluation of the Curriculum Development Role of Teachers as Key Agents in Curriculum Change (Master’s thesis, North-West University, South Africa). Retrieved from http://www.dspace.nwu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10394/Mokua-B.pdf

Morgan D. L. (1998). “Practical strategies for combining qualitative and quantitative methods: applications for health researchâ€, Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 362- 376, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1177/104973239800800307.

Morris P. (1998). Curriculum: Development, Issues and Politics, Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong University Press.

Morse J. M. (1991). “Approaches to qualitative-quantitative methodological triangulationâ€, Nursing Research, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 120-123, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199199103000-00014.

Mosothwane M. (2012). “The role of senior secondary school mathematics teachers in the development of mathematics curriculum in Botswanaâ€, International Journal of Scientific Research in Education, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 117-129.

Oloruntegbe K. O. (2011). “Teachers’ involvement, commitment and innovativeness in curriculum development and implementationâ€, Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies, Vol. 2, pp. 443–449.

Ornstein A. C. and Hunkins F. P. (2004). Curriculum: Foundations, Principals and Issues (4th ed.), Boston, MA. Allyn & Bacon

Owston R. (2007). “Contextual factors that sustain innovative pedagogical practice using technology: An international studyâ€, Journal of Educational Change, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 61-77, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10833-006-9006-6.

Pandian A. (2002). “English language teaching in Malaysia todayâ€, Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 35–52.

Pridmore P. (2007). “Adapting the primary school curriculum for multigrade classes in developing countries: A five-step plan and an agenda for changeâ€, Journal of Curriculum Studies, Vol. 39, No. 5, pp. 559-576.

Pryor J., Akyeampong K., Westbrook J. and Lussier K. (2012). “Rethinking teacher preparation and professional development in Africa: An analysis of the curriculum of teacher education in the teaching of early reading and mathematicsâ€, Curriculum Journal, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 409-502, available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585176.2012.747725.

Richards J. C. (2001). Curriculum Development in Language Teaching, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge University Press.

Riche B., Arab S.A., Bensemmane M, Ameziane H. and Hami H. (2005). Teacher’s Book, Getting Through, Secondary Education: Year Two, The National Authority for School Publications.

Ross S., Troutman A., Horgan D., Maxwell S., Laitinen R. and Lowther D. (March, 1997). “The success of schools in implementing eight restructuring designs: A synthesis of first-year evaluation outcomesâ€, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 95-124.

Rudduck J. (1986). “Curriculum Change: Management or Meaning?â€, Journal of a School Organization, Vol. 6 , No. 2, pp. 107-113.

Saad M., Zawdie G., Derbal A. and Lee R. (May, 2005). Issues and Challenges arising from greater role of the university in promoting innovation in developing countries: A comparative study of experiences in Malaysia, Algeria and Ethiopia. Paper presented at Triple Helix Conference, Turin, Italy.

Sarason S.B. (1990). The Predictable Failure of Reform: Can we Change Course before it's too Late?, San Francisco, CA. Jossey Bass.

Smith L.J., Maxwell S., Lowther D., Hacker D., Bol L. and Nunnery J. (March, 1997). “Activities in schools and programs experiencing the most, and least, early implementation successesâ€, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 125-150.

Taylor P. C. and Medina M. N. D. (2013). “Educational research paradigms: From positivism to multiparadigmaticâ€, Journal for Meaning Centred Education, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 1-13, available online at: www.researchgate.net.

Troudi S. (2006). Empowering ourselves through action research. In P. Davidson, M. Al-Hamly, J. Aydelott, C. Coombe and S. Troudi (Eds.), Teaching, learning, leading: Proceedings of the 11th TESOL Arabia conference (pp.277–290). Dubai: TESOL Arabia Publications.

Tudor I. (2003). “Learning to live with complexity: Towards an ecological perspective on language teachingâ€, System, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 1-12.

Tyack D. and Cuban L. (1995). Tinkering Toward Utopia, Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press.

Tyler T. R. and Kramer R. M. (1996). Whither trust? In R. M. Kramer and T. R. Tyler (Eds.), Trust in Organizations: Frontiers of Theory and Research (pp. 1-15). Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage.

Wang H. (2006). An implementation study of the English as a foreign language curriculum policy in the Chinese tertiary context (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom.

White, E. (2013). Algeria: Changing Landscape for Education, available online at: http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/2013042612901/Culture/algeria-changing-landscape-for-education.html

White R., Hodge R. and Martin M. (1991). Management in English Language Teaching, Cambridge, UK. Cambridge University Press.

World Bank. (February 14, 1993). Algeria - Basic and Secondary Education Support Project, available online at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/139851468192267287/Algeria-Basic-and-Secondary-Education-Support-Project

Downloads

Published

2019-05-31