Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An English Teacher’s Perspective on Curriculum Change in West Bengal

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
International Perspectives on Teachers Living with Curriculum Change

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on English Language Teaching ((INPELT))

Abstract

Mukherjee’s chapter reports on an English curriculum change introduced in great haste in response to a change of government. It almost overlapped with a previous change that was still underway. The teacher’s story contains inconsistencies, suggesting that her understanding of the ideas underpinning the change, and what these imply for practice are unclear. Mukherjee views this uncertainty as unsurprising given the speed with which the change was introduced. With immediate change implementation as their priority, planners chose not to consult or involve any implementation stakeholders , leading to over-optimistic assumptions regarding teachers’ existing understandings of change principles and learner proficiency levels, and inadequate teacher support provision, as well as the use of inexperienced writers to produce new textbooks .

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bolitho, R. 2012. Projects and programmes: Contemporary experience in ELT change management. In Managing Change in ELT: Lessons from experience, ed. C. Tribble, 33–459. London: British Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullan, M. 2007. The new meaning of educational change. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullan, M. 1998. Education reform: Are we on the right track? Canadian Educational Association 38 (3): 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graddol, D. 2010. English next India: The future of English in India. British Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of India. 2011. Census data on population. Available from: http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-series/C10.html. Accessed on 20/9/14.

  • Government of West Bengal. 2014. CCE- Peacock Model. Available from: http://www.wbbse.org/Files/CCE_I_VII.pdf. Accessed on 20/9/15.

  • Government of West Bengal. 2011. Data on number of upper primary schools and student enrolment. Available from: http://www.wbsed.gov.in/wbsed/default.html. Accessed on 20/9/15.

  • Government of West Bengal. 2011b. Recommendations on new curriculum and syllabus for school education by expert committee on curriculum and syllabus. GoWB: Kolkata. Govt. of West Bengal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, D. 2012. Planning for success: Culture, engagement and power in English language education innovation. In Manaing change in ELT: Lessons from experience, ed. C. Tribble, 47–60. London: British Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, B., and M. Fullan. 2008. Learning about system renewal. Educational Management Administration and Leadership. 36 (2): 289–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malderez, A., and Wedell, M. 2007. Teaching teachers: Processes and practices. London and New York: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meganathan, R. 2015. English language education situation in India: Pedagogical perspectives. The Journal of English as an International Language 10 (1): 48–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meganathan, R. 2013. Curriculum change in English language education in the State of Rajasthan: The dilemmas and paradoxes. A paper presented in the 47th Annual International Conference of IATEFL. Liverpool, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • NCERT. 2005a. National Curriculum Framework 2005. New Delhi: NCERT.

    Google Scholar 

  • NCERT. 2005b. National focus group position paper on teaching of English. New Delhi: NCERT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orafi, S.M.S. 2013. Effective factors in the implementation of ELT curriculum innovations. Scientific Research Journal. 1(V): 14–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • RTE Act. 2009. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, P. 1998. Report of the one man committee on English in primary education West Bengal. Kolkata: Basumati.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedell, M., and A. Malderez. 2013. Understanding language classroom contexts: The starting point for change. London: Bloomsbury.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedell, M. 2009. Planning for educational change: Putting people and their contexts first. London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • West Bengal. 2011. Upper Primary Education Scenario. Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Kolkata.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Postscript

It may be worth mentioning here that the process for orienting school leaders has now started in West Bengal.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sakhawat Memorial Govt. Girls’ High School, Kolkata, India

    Kuheli Mukherjee

Authors
  1. Kuheli Mukherjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kuheli Mukherjee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Martin Wedell

  2. School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Laura Grassick

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mukherjee, K. (2018). An English Teacher’s Perspective on Curriculum Change in West Bengal. In: Wedell, M., Grassick, L. (eds) International Perspectives on Teachers Living with Curriculum Change. International Perspectives on English Language Teaching. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54309-7_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54309-7_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-54308-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-54309-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation