Examination of the core curriculum from the perspective of reference framework of competences for democratic culture: Northern Cyprus case

ABSTRACT

This study, conducted within the interpretive paradigm, aimed to understand how democratic education is constructed around the theme of ‘responsible and active citizen’ in the national core curriculum in Northern Cyprus. An in-depth document analysis was conducted, to examine the extent to which the learning outcomes across the curriculum are aligned with the competence descriptors in the Council of Europe’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC). This framework was used as a guide and a tool to obtain a European and global perspective. The findings revealed that there is alignment, to a certain degree, between the learning outcomes and the RFCDC competences. This confirms that some of the major concepts of democratic education are incorporated in the core curriculum. The findings also indicated that in this curriculum, democratic education focuses on knowledge and engagement at a basic level. In doing so, it undermines the experiential side of citizenship learning, and active participation in democratic life. The study also sheds light on the use and nature of the RFCDC.

KEYWORDS:

• Curriculum analysis
• competences for democratic culture
• democratic education
• qualitative research
• reference framework of competences for democratic culture
• post-conflict country

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sıtkıye Kuter

Sıtkıye Kuter is a faculty member at the Faculty of Education at Eastern Mediterranean University, Northern Cyprus. She is specialised in the field of curriculum and instruction. Her research interests involve the areas of initial teacher education programs, curriculum design and evaluation, professional development, qualitative research, values education, democratic education and peace education.

Senem Sanal-Erginel

Senem Sanal-Erginel is a faculty member at the Faculty of Education at Final International University, Northern Cyprus. She is specialised in curriculum design and evaluation, and measurement and evaluation. She has been teaching education-related courses for several years. Her research interests include curriculum and instruction, qualitative research, democratic education, peace education, teacher professional development, parents, coaching and mentoring in education.