Support to primary curriculum development in Lesotho for the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET)
A six-month project to assist and guide the curriculum designers from the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) in Lesotho to complete the new intergrated curriculum for primary grades 1 – 3 and design the associated teacher training programme, as part of a holistic education programme supported by the World Bank.
Approach
Working closely with the team from the NCDC, Simone organised and delivered extensive training and capacity building in areas such as integrated curriculum, child cognitive development and learning, assessment methods, inclusive education, and Special Educational Needs. Simone supported the team to re-structure, adapt and edit the curriculum they had developed, liaising with and incorporating input from a wide range of stakeholders and interest groups. Working with the NCDC team, she also planned and designed teacher training materials and a monitoring and evaluation plan.
Outcomes
In 2012, grades 1 – 3 of the new curriculum were successfully piloted in 70 primary schools throughout Lesotho prior to being introduced nationwide in 2013. This innovative curriculum, which seeks to address the specific needs and challenges of Lesotho in the 21st century, is expected to constitute a model for other countries with similar traditions and challenges.