Upcoming school year to witness ‘digitisation’ of school curriculum — NCCD

AMMAN — The National Centre for Curriculum Development (NCCD), which develops schoolbooks and curricula in accordance with best practices and the Kingdom’s needs, is implementing a “Curriculum Digitisation Project,” according to NCCD Director Mahmoud Al Masad.

In an interview with The Jordan Times on Thursday, Masad said that the digitisation project will take five years.

Masad said that the upcoming school year will witness the digitisation of school curriculum and books for a number of grades. Educators will also be equipped with the necessary digital skills.

Digitised curriculum and books enable students to access study materials, in case they were absent from school, as well as provide clarifications on the material. Digitised material also ensures education does not grind to a halt amid a classroom or school closures.

Before the pandemic started, in-person education was not “ideal” in Jordan. It was criticised for its focus on “conventional and constructed teaching”, according to Masad, who added that “the ongoing pandemic has uncovered many secrets of the educational system”.

“During the past period, there was only ‘distance education’, which can be defined as ‘conventional teaching that excludes interaction’,”Masad said, noting that the “distance education” affected the true meaning of “distance learning”, which requires ample student engagement.

The NCCD operates within two main axes: The first is based on a special curriculum framework for computer and digital skills, while the second focuses on the use of school curriculum and books.  

“Among the main challenges facing the educational system in the Kingdom is the fact that educational institutions are overcrowded, which has led to implementing double shifts in schools,” the NCCD director noted.