Part 1: Written Assignment (Individual- 30%)

Curriculum is the foundation of an education system. This is because it decides what kind of
subjects will the students learn, the pedagogical skills, teaching and learning materials and
other important aspects that will determine the achievement of students’ learning. Curriculum
should always be a dynamic process as it helps students to keep pace with the constantly
changing society such as the advancement of technology and economy (Kelly, 2009).
Moreover, curriculum involves proper planning. Thus, there are various stakeholders who are
involved in developing and implementing a curriculum, each with different roles. This essay
will elucidate on the roles of different stakeholders which are students, teachers, school heads,
parents, community members, district administrators and school boards in the development
and implementation of a curriculum.

Typically, stakeholders refers to “any group or individual who is affected by or can

affect the achievement of an organization’s objectives” (Freeman & McVea, 2001). In schools,
students are the main stakeholders because it revolves around them, it is created for them.
To determine if a curriculum is successful or not, it is determined by the quality of learning
achieved by students (Stabback, 2016). Furthermore, students are the ones affected by the
curriculum planned. For instance, one of the underlying pedagogical principle in Standard
Based Curriculum for Primary Schools (KSSR) is that learning should be student-centred
(Ministry of Education, 2015). With such principal, the students may feel more motivated in
learning (Weimer, 2011). Moreover, the students are more active when participating in a
lesson and they tend to take ownership of their learning. Thus, the role of students as a
stakeholder may vary according to the development of curriculum.

Without teachers, there is no implementation of the curriculum. Bajpai (2013) stated

that as teachers are the ones who ensure that the students’ needs are met, they are also
responsible in implementing the curriculum in the classroom. Aside from that, they develop
the already existing curriculum according to their pupils’ learning needs. For example, a
teacher simplifies a complicated text through drawings for her pupils who are spatially
intelligent. They are not only an active implementer but are also an adapter of the curriculum
(Keiny, 1993). This can be exemplified through teachers’ adaptation of a theory into their
lesson. In order to ensure that teachers are aligned with the vision of the school, school heads
play a role in leading other teachers. They work closely with teaching and non-teaching staffs
to plan programmes such as seminars, workshops and meetings that can achieve the
objectives of a curriculum (Zambia Daily Mail, 2015). Therefore, teachers and school heads
have the role of developing and implementing the curriculum.
 Parents, being the child’s ultimate guidance, have the role in influencing the
development of the curriculum. They are the ones that students at a young age, model and
pick up their habits from. Parents’ involvement in their children’s school life has a positive
impact upon student performance (Khan, 1996). For instance, they attend teacher-parent
meetings to show their support and to be aware of the school policy or changes. Moreover,
parents invest their faith in the school’s curriculum as they want to see their children excel
(Brady & Kennedy, 2014). Majority parents provide necessary school supplies and spare their
time to ensure that their children complete their homework (Russell & Granville, 2005).
However, some parents do not have sufficient resources to support their children. This is
where the community members should step in to provide basic supplies for the underprivileged
students. Additionally, community members should get connected with the school curriculum.
They can engage themselves in the student learning by providing opportunities such as
experiential learning and project-based learning which happen beyond the classroom. Hence,
although not directly but parents and community members do have a role in implementing and
developing the curriculum.

Last but not least, school board and district administrators have a more top-down
responsibility in the developing of the curriculum. This is because they are considered to be
the overseers of the curriculum. Both work closely together in implementing and overseeing
the curriculum in schools. School board appoints district administrators and district
administrators have the support from the school board to introduce and provide learning
environment improvement (Colorado Association of School Boards, n.d.). For example, district
administrators prepares and proposes a budget to the school board, then, the school board
will consider and revise the proposed budget. Besides, school boards function as legislative
agencies because they develop, implement and assess policies which are conformed to the
federal laws (Beckham & Wills, n.d.). As for district administrators, they are to ensure that the
schools in their respective districts follow the developed curriculum. Therefore, school board
and district administrators have significant roles in the implementing and developing
curriculum.

In conclusion, the roles of stakeholders vary according to their position in the society.
Stakeholders with higher position such as school boards and district administrations are the
ones who determine the type of curriculum to be adapted in schools. Whereas stakeholders
such as students, teachers and school heads have a direct contact with the curriculum
whereby they are the ones to implement the curriculum. Moreover, it is essential that every
stakeholder carry out their roles respectively for the success of curriculum to be implemented
and developed in schools. This is because without the involvement of the stakeholders, the
objectives of curriculum cannot be achieved. For this reason, it may lead to a deterioration of
the education of that country. Therefore, stakeholders should be aware of their roles and
responsibility in the implementation and development of the curriculum.
References
Bajpai, S. (2013, March 28). The Classroom Teacher is a Major Stakeholder. Retrieved
March 21, 2018 from http://gulfnews.com/culture/education/the-classroom-teacher-is-
a-major-stakeholder-1.1200247

Beckham, J. & Wills, B. K. (n.d.). Duties, Responsibilities, Decision-Making, and Legal Basis
for Local School Board Powers. Retrieved March 22, 2018 from
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2391/School-Boards.html

Brady, L. & Kennedy, K. (2014). Curriculum Construction. Malaysia: Pearson.

Colorado Association of School Boards. (n.d.). School/District Administrators. Retrieved

March 21, 2018 from https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/training-technical-
assistance/roles/schooldistrict-administrators

Freeman, E. & McVea, J. (2001). A Stakeholder Approach to Strategic Management. Darden

Business School Working Paper. Retrieved March 21, 2018 from
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=263511.

Keiny, S. (1993). School-Based Curriculum Development as a Process of Teachers’

Professional Development: Educational Action Research, 1(1), 65-93, DOI:
10.1080/0965079930010105

Kelly, A. V. (2009). The Curriculum: Theory and Practice. Great Britain: SAGE Publication.

Khan, M. B. (1996). Parental Involvement in Education: Possibilities and Limitations: The

School Community Journal, 6(1), 57-68.

Ministry of Education. (2015). Dokumen Standard Kurikulum Dan Pentaksiran (DSKP)

KSSR. Retrieved March 21, 2018 from
https://www.moe.gov.my/index.php/my/pegawai-perkhidmatan-pendidikan/dokumen-
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Russell, K. & Granville, S. (2005). Parents' Views on Improving Parental Involvement in

Children's Education. Retrieved March 22, 2018 from
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/03/20759/53608

Stabback, P. (2016). What Makes A Quality Curriculum: Current and Critical Issues in
Curriculum and Learning, 2(2), 15-41.

Weimer (2011, July 15). A Learner-Centered Approach Affects Student Motivation. Retrieved
March 21, 2018 from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/a-
learner-centered-approach-affects-student-motivation/
Zambia Daily Mail. (2015, May 1). Head Teachers have Important Role. Retrieved March 22,
from https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/head-teachers-important-role/