Evaluating the Curriculum includes the process of monitoring to teaching-learning process and providing feedback. The principal of the school is accountable to the parents, teachers, local community, government departments as well as the ‘management’ or the managing committee of the institution.
Evaluation of curricular processes and outcomes is a very important function at all levels of education in view of the accountability the institution to satisfy the expectations and demands of the various stakeholders.
Planning and operating the curriculum necessitate taking decisions and making choices based on judgment, wisdom, and knowledge.
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This requires evaluation. In order to fulfill the expectations and demands concerning curriculum continuous assessment and reassessment of trends, opinions, attitudes, policies and views and their possible influence on curriculum required.
This, in effect, is evaluation which implies assessment, test measurement. Evaluation in the educational setting incorporates a variety operations and feedback as well as internal and external indicator concerning individual students, class, stream, departments or the w institution. Evaluation is aimed at finding out whether the curriculum been effective in achieving the aims of the institution or not.
The feedback mechanisms used in the evaluation process are simple and routine in nature such as regular attendance and health checks assessing/correcting homework, results of unit’s tests and end-of-the examinations, monthly records and so on. This kind of formative summative evaluation decreases administrative hassles and encourages ‘learning approach’ to circumstances and situations.
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This process of curriculum management can be described summarized form using the following steps:
(1) Survey the situation, circumstances and the scene.
(2) Assess the need for change as perceived and felt by student’s teachers and the society.
(3) Identify and define the problems.
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(4) Recall and review the existing aims, goals and objectives.
(5) Modify them if necessary.
(6) Identify alternatives, make proposals and evaluate and them.
(7) Prepare curriculum design.
(8) Organize the curriculum and the faculty for its implementation
(9) Make provisions for learning materials and other infrastructural facilities.
(10) Supervise the process.
(11) Anticipate the outcomes for future.
(12) Co-ordinate the activities and processes.
(13) Monitor it by obtaining periodic feedback.
(14) Evaluate.
The whole process requires tactful handling by the manager of the institution who needs to follow these guidelines:
i. Involve only a few motivated, committed and interested persons who want to see the institution progress at first.
ii. Hold planning sessions as and when required.
iii. Reward openly, appropriately and sensibly, give due credit to the people involved.
iv. Provide planners with necessary time, space, material and finances.
v. Delegate work wherever possible.
vi. Establish deadlines for work completion.
vii. Help planners in identifying and establishing priorities.
viii. Determine criteria for decision-making.
ix. Encourage the people involved for effective management of curriculum.