Curriculum at the Crossroads: Reimagining Rural Curriculum Through Community Memory and Educational Justice

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 11:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Critical Cartographies: Centering Teacher Knowledge in Place, Identity, and Curriculum Justice

Abstract

National curriculum policies often overlook the unique needs and realities of rural communities, thereby reducing the relevance and opportunities for education among rural students. This study aims to examine how national curriculum policies align with the needs, aspirations, and lived experiences of residents in a rural community in Trinidad and Tobago. The study revealed a rigid, academically focused curriculum that failed to address the diverse needs of the students in the community, resulting in disengagement, limited post-secondary options, and community dissatisfaction. This research highlights the importance of developing inclusive, place-responsive curricula that promote rural development and educational equity by aligning schooling with local contexts and aspirations.

Author

• Alicia Francisca Noreiga, Acadia University