Examine the Specific Curricular Issues in the School Curriculum. How Can the Issues Be Addressed to Develop the Personality of the Students? Illustrate It with Your Own Views
Introduction
The school curriculum serves as the backbone of a nation’s educational framework. It not only imparts academic knowledge but also influences students’ personalities, values, and life skills. However, several issues in the curriculum hinder its holistic impact. To enable true personality development, these challenges must be identified and effectively addressed.
Specific Curricular Issues
1. Rote Learning and Exam Orientation
Many school systems prioritize memorization over understanding. This suppresses creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills essential for personal growth.
2. Overloaded Curriculum
The syllabus is often vast, leaving little time for co-curricular or life skill education. Students feel stressed and disconnected from real-life applications of knowledge.
3. Lack of Contextual Relevance
Content is frequently abstract or outdated and does not relate to students’ socio-cultural backgrounds, leading to disengagement and a lack of emotional resonance.
4. Inadequate Focus on Life Skills
Important aspects like emotional intelligence, communication, leadership, and ethics are often missing or superficially covered.
5. Neglect of Vocational and Artistic Education
Subjects like music, art, and vocational training are sidelined, ignoring the varied talents and interests of students.
6. Inequality and Language Barriers
The curriculum often favors urban and English-speaking students, putting rural and regional language learners at a disadvantage.
Addressing These Issues
1. Promoting Critical and Experiential Learning
Shifting from rote methods to inquiry-based, experiential learning encourages curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. Projects, discussions, and real-life applications can be integrated.
2. Reducing Curriculum Load
Simplifying the syllabus and emphasizing key concepts would allow time for activities that nurture emotional and social development.
3. Contextualizing Learning
Textbooks and content should be regionally relevant and culturally inclusive. Case studies, local examples, and community-based learning can help.
4. Life Skills Integration
Subjects like value education, health education, and emotional well-being must be embedded across disciplines, not treated as add-ons.
5. Emphasizing Arts and Vocational Training
Including music, crafts, theater, and vocational subjects can help in holistic personality development and make education more inclusive.
6. Promoting Multilingual Education
Providing learning opportunities in regional languages and promoting bilingual/multilingual education helps bridge gaps in understanding and equity.
My Views
As someone who believes in holistic education, I feel schools should become spaces where students explore their identity and capabilities. Personality development requires a nurturing environment that values diversity, encourages expression, and teaches emotional resilience. Teachers should act as facilitators and mentors, not just instructors. Schools should also invest in mental health resources and peer counseling to build confident and balanced individuals.
Conclusion
Curricular reforms must aim to develop students not only academically but emotionally, socially, and ethically. A well-rounded curriculum fosters self-awareness, empathy, critical thinking, and responsibility, laying the foundation for responsible citizens and lifelong learners.