An Update on Curriculum Reform

Francis Fonseca

Were a number of teachers not consulted on the implementation of the new education curriculum? Since 2022, a competency-based curriculum has been rolled out and earlier this year; stakeholders within the education sector have been travelling across the country to poll its success. When the media caught up with Minister of Education Francis Fonseca recently, he was asked about the allegations made that not all teachers were consulted on the curriculum reform and that some weren’t provided with resources. Minister Fonseca says that the curriculum rollout for schools is recommended as a three-year plan.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“We put out a release addressing that issue. We are certainly not in any rush. We have worked very closely with our education community to implement the new curriculum framework. The B.N.T.U. has been there with us every step of the way. Senator Elena Smith represented the B.N.T.U. at every consultation across the country, widespread consultations and we are not in any rush, as I believe the ministry has pointed out. We have asked the schools to put in place a three-year plan. How can that be a rush? A three-year plan for the implementation of this new curriculum framework, so we believe that there has been meaningful consultation. With any change, especially curriculum reform which is very transformative, very bold, very progressive, with any change of that nature, obviously there will be hiccups, there will be challenges but we are approaching those in the spirit of compromise, the spirit of flexibility – working with our schools and working with our teachers to ensure that we address every and any concern that they have.”