Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kuwait: from the Ideal to Real

Abstract

Following the steps of countries known for their rigorous education systems, and under the supervision and recommendations of the World Bank in 2015/2016, Kuwait placed a considerable budget to instigate a curriculum reform, via the implementation of Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC), which was adapted three years ago. However, the relatively modest outcome was controversial and did not meet the expectations of both policymakers and teachers. This study investigated the factors that hindered progression of CBC in the English curriculum as expressed by ESL teachers in the field. The study utilized a mixed-method design whereby both quantitative and qualitative data were used to fulfill the research objectives. Findings indicate that ESL teachers generally held positive views on CBC, yet several obstacles hindered CBC efficacy in the schools of Kuwait. The study also listed a number of pros and cons of CBC practice in Kuwait. Interviews with stakeholders brought a number of issues of misconduct, if not contained, no curriculum reform would gain the anticipated positive outcomes. Research objectives were addressed as a recommendation for future planning of curriculum change, contributing to the field of study.

What EFL Student-Teachers Think about their Preparation Program: An Evaluation of Kuwait’s English Practicum Program

“…It is clear from the results that the students with higher total GPA grade-level play a vital role in the results and outcomes that the student achieves from the practicum training, as indicated by the results in this study. It can be attributed that the Kuwait government school curriculum emphasizes teaching languages rely primarily on the student-teachers' level of English proficiency and the teachers' fluency in teaching language skills (Sadeq et al, 2021). It is worth mentioning that the results obtained in this research paper are opposed to the findings of Peacock (2009) in the sense that teaching skills -pedagogic competence-are emphasized over English proficiency and management skills.…”

Kuwaiti Teachers' Satisfaction with the Social Studies Curriculum and Their Performance in the Classroom

“…They hold high-moderate satisfactory levels towards the curriculum. This picture holds that these teachers highly rank their curriculum as enriching the whole educational system (Sadeq, Akbar, & Al Wazzan, 2021). That affirms the need to revise the social studies curriculum by its developers and designers to meet the teachers' satisfaction, as does the English language curriculum.…”

Comparing the impact of the Sport Education model on student motivation in Kuwaiti and American students

“…More recently, a notable collaboration with the World Bank again in 2015/2016 led to the recommendation of the Competence Based Curriculum, a student-centered curriculum implemented in schools across Kuwait. However, just 3 years after its implementation, the curriculum was discontinued and criticized for its poor fit within the Kuwaiti context (Sadeq et al, 2021). The primary reasons for its perceived inappropriateness were manifold: Resistance from the deeply rooted conservative community, skepticism from parents about the model's efficacy, a lack of local expertise since the model was predominantly developed by international researchers, and concerns regarding the fairness of the curriculum's assessment methods, which significantly departed from traditional approaches.…”