The NCCA is attentive to the importance of clarity and accessibility in curriculum terminology, including terms such as ‘social justice’.
The NCCA publishes all draft curriculum specifications for public consultation and uses a variety of methods to gather feedback. The feedback is analysed and reported on, and used by Development Groups, Boards and the Council to finalise the specifications. The Council’s strategic plans are also published for consultation and finalised using the feedback received. Where terms, principles or curriculum aims appear to contribute to divergent interpretations, these are reviewed and updated where and if helpful.
In more recent years, in the case of new curriculum specifications, the NCCA carries out early enactment reviews which provide an opportunity to learn from schools’ experience with the curriculum. This is another opportunity to revisit terms, principles or curriculum aims where and if helpful.
The NCCA will continue to monitor stakeholder understanding and interpretation of terminology used in specifications as part of its ongoing curriculum development and review processes.
