Parenting is quite a challenging journey where you have to take some of the most critical decisions for your child, even before they turn five! The choice of school is definitely on the top of everyone’s list. If you are a parent to a school-going child, you have probably lived the experience of going through tens and hundreds of school application forms and choosing one that is the right fit for your child.
There are many things that you need to keep in mind to make an informed decision. Budget, proximity to your house, affiliation board, infrastructure, teaching staff, etc., are some of them. And even though you can probably compromise on some of these factors, there’s one that you should never ignore – the curriculum.
Now, if you are wondering why your child’s school curriculum is so important, read on to find out four compelling reasons for the same. Happy reading!
What is a Curriculum?
While we all use the word quite commonly, the exact meaning of curriculum can be difficult to comprehend. So, before we discuss the importance of curriculum, it makes perfect sense to understand what a curriculum is and the goal of having one.
A curriculum is basically a guideline that a school follows to impart knowledge. It includes the lessons, academic content, or specific courses or subjects a school teaches to its students. But for all practical purposes, a curriculum is much more than that.
At Excelsior American School, a well-known IGCSE school in Gurgaon, we use it in a comprehensive manner to refer to the skills and knowledge a student needs to learn while in school. It includes learning objectives, teaching techniques, assessments, projects, extra-curricular activities, and much more.
The ultimate goal of a curriculum is to give a structured way for students to learn. Imagine if there were no set curriculum, every school and teacher could teach a different set of lessons, and it really wouldn’t be a fair comparison for children. But, there’s more to curricula than that. Read on to find out how a good curriculum can enhance the learning journey for your child.
But what is a good curriculum? Let’s find out.
Defining a Good Curriculum
Since ‘good’ is quite a subjective term, it is best to evaluate a curriculum on measurable parameters. The most widely accepted one is where you compare a curriculum against how well it performs on the following parameters:
- What skills can children learn?
- What is the sequence of lessons?
- How well it meets the national and international standards of education?
- Is the content relevant and updated as per industry standards?
- What is the assessment pattern to gauge students’ performance?
- How much time is allocated for different lessons and units?
If the school you are assessing for your child has a curriculum that measures well on all the above parameters, you should definitely consider it further. At Excelsior American School, we follow international IGCE standards to provide holistic education to our pupils and meet their all-round learning goals.
Features of a Good School Curriculum
- Inclusivity and Flexibility – At the core, any good educational framework should provide equal learning opportunities to every student. Since children have different levels of academic intelligence and receptivity, it’s important that a good curriculum be flexible and inclusive.
- Dynamic and Evolving – As technology evolves by the minute, it only makes sense that educational frameworks also revise and evolve to match the changing learning needs of the children. At Excelsior American School, regarded as one of the best IGCSE schools in Gurgaon, we work round the clock to update our lessons and teaching methods to stay at pace with the advancing times.
- Structured and Gradual – One of the best ways to teach a child something complex is to build on the concept gradually. Since the information comes in smaller batches, it is easier to process and retain. A good curriculum breaks a bigger concept, especially in STEM-based learning, into smaller lessons to aid in the engrained understanding of each and every concept.
- Personalized Learning Experience – Every child has a different learning need, and they learn best when allowed to do it at a pace they are comfortable in. A good curriculum weaves ample opportunities for personalized learning.
Summing up, a good curriculum provides an excellent way for students, teachers, parents, and the entire community to measure the quality of education. At Excelsior American School, we follow the internationally acclaimed IGCSE curriculum to help our students pick up essential skills and competencies and be future-ready.
4 Compelling Reasons Why Your Child’s School Curriculum Deserves Your Attention
- A Good Curriculum Creates Identity and Culture
When a school follows a good, holistic curriculum, it helps to build individuality in thought processes. It is the best way to teach kids the importance of their cultural roots while helping them to aim for the stars.
- It Helps a Student Stay Updated with New Skills
Any effective curriculum evolves with changing times. Such a framework ensures that your child learns the latest and most relevant skills and lessons. It helps put them ahead of the competition and prepares them for the future.
- It Brings Consistency in Learning Goals
Inconsistent learning goals (internally in a school or otherwise) can impact how well a child picks up skills and knowledge. So, a good curriculum helps create a healthy environment where children clearly understand learning goals and perform better holistically. It also helps to make education comparable across different schools in the country.
- Holistic Curriculum Encourages Collaboration
One of the most critical aspects of education today is to empower children with essential life skills like teamwork, compassion, etc. When you choose a holistic curriculum, you give your children the chance to build on such essential 21st-century competencies. To that end, the IGCSE curriculum that we, at Excelsior American School, is particularly beneficial as it not only emphasizes academic brilliance for the learners but also focuses on instilling them with the crucial life skills to aid in their holistic growth.
Summing Up
At Excelsior American School, one of the renowned IGCSE schools in Gurgaon, we believe that the right curriculum holds the power to put the learners in a better position. It works as the key to creating a brighter future with the right job and fulfilling life. The IGCSE curriculum that we are affiliated with is truly dependable in this regard as it has always helped our children to stay on top of things.
