Students of class four, five and six will have reformed Science curriculum starting this year’s academic session. The new curriculum promotes teaching of Science based on Bhutanese natural and social environment.
Until today, Science education in Bhutan was a borrowed curriculum from India.
A teacher of Ballaygang Primary School in Dagana, Sonam Tobgay, said the most prominent and distinct change is the illustrations in the new curriculum. “All the illustrations in the text books are derived from Bhutanese context,” he said.
Another teacher from Gosarling Community School in Tsirang, Nima Wangdi, said the previous curriculum had strict assessment approach. “The new curriculum has assessment mode especially the check list, rubrics, journals, project works and when and how to assess.”
He also added that the colourful designs and proper illustrations in the new curriculum will make learning interesting for the students.
More than 30 Science teachers from primary schools across Tsirang and Dagana districts attended the four-day orientation workshop in Tsirang to evaluate the new Science text books.
After the orientation workshop, the teachers will go back to their respective schools and perform school based in-service program with their fellow mates.
One of the resource people, Karma Utha, says the new curriculum is both student and teacher friendly. Karma Utha is a Physics lecturer, from Samtse College of Education. “But there would be challenges for the teachers at the initial stage.” She said the new text books contain lot of activities which the teachers should be involved in. “I am little worried whether the teachers will be able to do all the activities.” Karma Utha said there would be some non-Science teachers teaching the subject and they may not be able to give as much attention as required.
On the positive note, many teachers say the new curriculum focuses on development of pure learning through fair tests as opposed to a more traditional learning system of rote.
