Successful teaching and learning to a large extent emanate from careful planning and preparation. Before this can be done, the teacher must be fully aware of what subject-matter is required to be taught in each subject. For this information he or she will refer to the syllabus for each subject. Trainers should also be encouraged to consult the class teachers during teaching practice.

The Syllabus

The syllabus is a document that contains all the topics for a course of teaching of a particular subject. Each subject taught in the primary school has its own syllabus.
A syllabus is planned to include the work to be taught for a whole year. After the year is over, it can be adjusted if necessary.

If the curriculum changes, the syllabuses must also change. Frequently teachers confuse the syllabus with the curriculum. The curriculum includes all the subjects taught in the school and activities like games, clubs, educational tours, etc.

Primary school syllabuses are to be found in the following places:
In the head-teacher’s office. They must be made available to the teachers when needed. Keeping copies of the syllabus in a cupboard in the staff room would be more convenient;

In the teacher training college library;
In the Department of Education of a teacher training college;
In the teacher’s Advisory centers; and
In the assistant primary school inspector’s office.

If the teacher is unable to obtain a syllabus from any of these sources, he should realize that he can contact the curriculum Department section of the ministry of Education.

Information to be obtained from a syllabus:

As well as containing the broad topics to be taught, a syllabus usually contains other important information such as:

The objectives of teaching each topic. The teacher must study these objectives so that he or she is clear about what skills, knowledge and attitudes the learners are meant to gain from them;

The number of periods per week for each subject;
The recommended textbooks for the pupils;
The recommended teacher’s guides; and
The recommended reference books.

The syllabus may also contain the general objective of teaching the primary school curriculum.

Sometimes in the beginning of the syllabus there may be an outline of the broad objectives (goals or aims) of education as envisaged by the educators of the country of origin. In most countries syllabuses are prescribed by the Ministries of Education and include detailed information which teachers are required to follow. In the developing countries where the schools have to rely on many unqualified teachers training on the job, specifications like these prove very useful.

In other countries, especially in the more developed ones where teachers have a good background of academic education and professional training, the syllabuses are less detailed and so leave the teacher with a lot more leeway to interpret their content according to local and pupil needs.

Whatever the situation, it is imperative that the teacher studies and becomes familiar with the work to be covered in each subject, including the subjects he is not going to teach. This will enable him to see how what he teaches falls in place in a continuous learning practice.
 

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