Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education Session 6A: Curriculum for Post-Primary Education Processes of curriculum change and competency-based approaches in basic education within an interregional perspective Presenter: Renato Opertti ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa

Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education Problem statement  Competency-based approaches to curricula change – advances made and challenges to address  Objective: to contribute to the understanding and sharing of concepts and tools on an inter-regional basis aimed at providing examples for the expansion, enlargement and democratization of post-primary education in Africa.  Areas of debate: i. how to envisage the education systems and learners’ diversities and ii. the controversial and polysemic nature of the concept of competencies. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa

Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education Share practices inter-regionally  Common challenge: how competency-based approaches could be core tools of education reforms  Canada: close gaps between programmes of study and real life classroom experiences  China: cultivate competencies through practical situations  Guatemala: integrative learning situations as a tool to implement a macro curricular structure competency- based (from vision to practice)  Uruguay: competency approaches as the main focus of curriculum design and implementation ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa

Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education Diverse processes and results  Canada: bank of situations based on the actions of students feed the study programmes (competent action in situation)  China: cross-disciplinary studies and elective courses to help break a subject-centered curricula  Guatemala: pedagogy of integration- teachers fell at ease using classroom situations and students enjoy them  Uruguay: the competency approach as a cross-cutting dimension of a comprehensive curricular vision ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa

Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education Challenges ahead  Need of a more open, frank and evidence-based discussion around competencies  Competency-based approaches should be incorporated into the curricula structure, the design of study programmes, the school and the classrooms  Learning situations as the origin and criterion of competencies  Competencies can help the visualization of students as learning actors and not as learning targets  The reforms of basic and teachers’ education should be articulated ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa

Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education An opportunity towards EFA  Latin American experience: competency-based approaches can contribute to expand years of schooling and to democratize learning opportunities. Not conclusive evidence on students´ outcomes.  Competency approaches could be seen as a main entrance to design a curricular framework for basic education (objectives, structures and contents).  A competency-based curriculum can better visualize learners’ diversities leading to an inclusive curriculum. One renovated way of addressing EFA goals? ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa