CURRICULUM IN LATIN AMERICA

The Secondary Education Curriculum in Latin America: New Tendencies and Changes

The Secondary Education Curriculum in Latin America: New Tendencies and Changes

Introduction

The report named “The Secondary Education Curriculum in Latin America: New Tendencies and Changes” was presented at Buenos Aires headquarters of UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) on 2 and 3 September in 1999. The main purpose of the report is to highlight secondary education curriculum and global trends in the decade of 1990s in Latin America.

This paper is the summary of seven chapters provided in the report. Each chapter has different aspects regarding different areas highlighted throughout the paper. First chapter covers the challenges of new education along with the changes occurring in the world as far as young people education is concerned. Second chapter discusses new curriculum materials required to meet those challenges highlighted in chapter one. Chapter three diversifies the idea of having typical curriculum by focusing on development of personalities of young people. Chapter four brings us back to curriculum and provide valuable suggestions related to official curricular elements characteristics. Chapter four is in bit details as it put forward some of the impacts of curriculum changes. These changes can be current and prospective as the idea of innovation and curriculum content is linked with the youth culture. Chapter six highlights the countries in which curriculum change is already implemented and said to be well advanced as compare to Latin America.

CHAPTER I: The Major Tendencies of Contemporary Development and Latin America

The trend of change has been quite minimal in the past as the events occurred are quite interconnected. There was less economic and cultural trend change at that time than now. Cultural and economical development is impacting peoples. This affect is making them consider alternative choices available to them to satisfy their needs especially educational ones.

A Heterogeneous, Dwindling and Increasingly Changing Labor Market

Latin America is highly affected by economic trends. This section particularly highlights at least five economic trends. The first economic trend is lack of employment opportunities to satisfy basic needs. This trend may impact young people as they will have to face the period of unemployment because of their late delay in labor market. Second economic trend is lack of jobs available in industrial and agriculture sector as compared to service sector. Third trend is informal employment growth as compared to formal employment. The forth one is related to changing job profile and demands with respect to specific skills. Fifth trend covers changing scale on which the working lives of individuals are conducted in practice.

These changing trends are providing challenges for secondary education. Lack of job opportunities can be seen as making schooling mandatory in fact extending it so that young people do not face the period of unemployment. Official curriculum is creating challenges of providing alternatives. Changes of profiles are revolving the traditional purpose of educational system. the purpose of to teach people to learn.

The opportunities offered by labor markets in Latin America are critical ...