CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN

Keywords;    Basis of Classification,  Chronological Age,  Retarded Children, General Intelligence, Attainment in School Subjects,   Multiple and Composite Basis

Psychological
Factors of Classification

1.      Basis of Classification

2.      Chronological Age

3.      Retarded Children

4.      General Intelligence

5.      Attainment in School Subjects

6.      Multiple and Composite Basis

1. Basis of Classification

·        The simplest and the crudest basis of classification is the age of the
children

·        Education based on age where elementary education is
compulsory and the children join the schools at a certain prescribed age.

·        Generally children are to be chosen of same age

·       
Age is generally considered an index
of a pupils educational standing (rank)

2.
Chronological Age

·       
Age is to be
considered unreliable basis of classification

·       
Difference
of age may have difference in abilities

·       
Age factor
was the simple criterion for classification in views of the teachers and
administrators

·       
Lock step
was introduced for bringing equality

·       
Mental
ability was according to the chronological age

·       
Distribution
by age is different in different countries like in USA, chronological age
varies from 9 years to 17 years and average being 11-12 years.

·        Attention is focused upon the
retardation in schools

3. Retarded Children

·       
Retarded
factor is very large in educational progress

·       
Spending
much time in the class for its completion show their retardation specially in
rural areas 

·       
Stagnation
occurs to much larger extent in rural areas than in urban

·       
Due to
inferiority, retarded pupils usually lose self respect and self confidence

·       
Often
neglected by the teachers in the class

·       
Theycan not
express their feelings by the way of compensation

·       
Poor parents
can not afford the expenses of their children at schools even if education is
free

·       
Older
students may be sent to their age level students or promoted to the higher
classes

·        Retardation is also due to the
adjustment of the pupils with their environment

4. General Intelligence

·       
Priority is
now on mental age in many countries for classification

·       
In America,
generally group tests are to be used which are considered easy to administer
and to score

·       
Division of
the classes into section usually based on the tests

·       
Transfer of
the pupil is also considered on the base of these tests

·       
These tests
for classification help in the progress of the students

·       
Intelligence
tests are mostly considered useful for primary schools

·       
Individual
tests are better than group tests for the children under ten or eleven years of
age

·       
Tests are to
be conducted by the trained personnel in the field of psychology

·        Moral qualities, such as
application, consciousness, and regularity are necessary for the proper use of
intelligence

5. Attainment in School Subjects

·       
Weakness in
any one of the subject is the psychological factor

·       
Future achievements
based on the past results of the different subjects

·       
Headmaster
should take different tests regarding reading, writing and the simplest process
of arithmetic

·        Tests realize the pupils to develop
their special abilities, together with general abilities and up to the required
standards

6. Multiple and Composite Basis

·       
Social
maturity of the children

·       
Physiological
growth, their moral and emotional qualities to industry, perseverance, ambition
and interest

·       
Multiple
basis usually be checked against each other but final decision is based on
teacher

·       
Composite
method employs a number of criteria such as psychological development, general
intelligence, achievement in the school subjects, social maturity, industry,
application, chronological age, etc.

·       
Tests are applied