Evaluation of the Impiementation of Grade Eight Social Studies Syllabus in I1lubabor Zone. The Case of Metu Town and Metu Woreda
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Curriculum implementation is said to be effective if it is implemented as
suggested in the syllabus. On this line Derebssa (2004:240) suggested that
curriculum can not achi ve its objectives unless it is taught (implemented) in
the way it is intended to be. In view of this, the aim of this study is to evaluate
the discrepancies between the curriculum anticipation and realities and to
identJy the factors that hinder effective implementation of grade eight social
studies syllabus in upper primary schools of Metu town and Metu woreda
using the descriptive survey method .
To this effect, all upper primary schools (seven in number) were incorporated
in the study. Main sources of data were all grade eight social studies teachers
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and all school officials (principals,
vice
principals and social studies
department heads) of the concerned schools and students focus groups in
each school. The major data collection tools were questionnaire, observation
and foeus groups discussion.
The findings of the study revealed that the teaching learning environments are
not conducive as it should be, though teachers' attitude is more of positive,
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they lack interest to the teaching profession and most teachers exhibitcd
weak classroom performance so that they could not apply the instructional
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guidelines as suggested in the syllabus. This implies that there are great
discrepancies between the curriculum anticipation and realities.
Therefore, the eurriculum implementation process in the study area was not
effective. According to the study major factors that hinder the effectiveness of
the implementation of grade eight social studies curriculum were large class
size, shortage of student textbook, teacher's work load, inadequacy of the
period allotted to cover the syllabus and teacher's lack of interest to the
profession.
Based on the findings of the study different recommendations are suggested
in order to improve the implementation of the syllabus under study and
minimize the discrepancies between curriculum anticipation and realities in
the study area.
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Keywords
Evaluation of the Impiementation, of Grade Eight