CREATING AN EFFECTIVE CURRICULUM TO DEVELOP COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL SKILLS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

Poorly created and developed curriculum poses learning and teaching challenges. This paper presents some critical strategies for creating an effective curriculum that plans for primary school children’s cognitive and social skills development. It employs critical explanatory approach to show the dimensions of achieving a workable curriculum for cognitive and social skills development. It demonstrates that in creating and developing a primary school curriculum, curriculum framework, teaching strategies, classroom environment, assessment strategies, community and parental involvement, and professional development for educators are co-factors to be considered in the process. The paper concludes that the integration of measures capable of providing children with cognitive and social skills can enrich the formal learning experience of primary school learners. Stakeholders are charged to be decisive and learner-focused while creating and developing curriculum. Besides, favorable policies should be made and sustained on curriculum creation, development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring for deserving learning outcomes.