The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats

The end of British colonial rule in 1966 provided an impetus for curriculum reform in Lesotho. Since then, a number of curriculum and assessment reforms have been attempted, albeit with a little success. In all cases, the aim has been to achieve the goals of education for national development. The C...

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Main Authors: Mohaeka Raselimo, Mahao Mahao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Education Association of South Africa 2015-02-01
Series:South African Journal of Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0256-01002015000100017&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Mohaeka Raselimo
Mahao Mahao
author_facet Mohaeka Raselimo
Mahao Mahao
author_sort Mohaeka Raselimo
collection DOAJ
description The end of British colonial rule in 1966 provided an impetus for curriculum reform in Lesotho. Since then, a number of curriculum and assessment reforms have been attempted, albeit with a little success. In all cases, the aim has been to achieve the goals of education for national development. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy 2009 represents the latest education reform, which marks a departure from the subject and examination-oriented curriculum to a new dispensation wherein curriculum is organised into learning areas reflecting practical life challenges. In this paper, we analyse the content of this policy document in order to identify the underlying assumptions about curriculum, pedagogy and assessment focusing on secondary education. We take a critical perspective on policy analysis to uncover contradictions and paradoxes associated with the educational discourses being promoted by the document. We further discuss the implications of curriculum policy intentions of the document, highlighting opportunities and threats for educational development in Lesotho. Based on the findings of our review, we argue that although the new policy creates opportunities for personal growth of learners and economic development in Lesotho, there are threats and challenges, which can be detrimental to its successful implementation.
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spelling doaj.art-27e9e8b9e55e4950be6c8b8b7f1136942022-12-21T22:21:46ZengEducation Association of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Education2076-34332015-02-013510112S0256-01002015000100017The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threatsMohaeka Raselimo0Mahao Mahao1National University of LesothoNational University of LesothoThe end of British colonial rule in 1966 provided an impetus for curriculum reform in Lesotho. Since then, a number of curriculum and assessment reforms have been attempted, albeit with a little success. In all cases, the aim has been to achieve the goals of education for national development. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy 2009 represents the latest education reform, which marks a departure from the subject and examination-oriented curriculum to a new dispensation wherein curriculum is organised into learning areas reflecting practical life challenges. In this paper, we analyse the content of this policy document in order to identify the underlying assumptions about curriculum, pedagogy and assessment focusing on secondary education. We take a critical perspective on policy analysis to uncover contradictions and paradoxes associated with the educational discourses being promoted by the document. We further discuss the implications of curriculum policy intentions of the document, highlighting opportunities and threats for educational development in Lesotho. Based on the findings of our review, we argue that although the new policy creates opportunities for personal growth of learners and economic development in Lesotho, there are threats and challenges, which can be detrimental to its successful implementation.http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0256-01002015000100017&lng=en&tlng=enassessmentcurriculumcurriculum integrationpedagogypolicy
spellingShingle Mohaeka Raselimo
Mahao Mahao
The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats
South African Journal of Education
assessment
curriculum
curriculum integration
pedagogy
policy
title The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats
title_full The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats
title_fullStr The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats
title_full_unstemmed The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats
title_short The Lesotho curriculum and assessment policy: Opportunities and threats
title_sort lesotho curriculum and assessment policy opportunities and threats
topic assessment
curriculum
curriculum integration
pedagogy
policy
url http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0256-01002015000100017&lng=en&tlng=en
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