School-Based Curriculum Development: A Strategy to Decentralize the Curriculum System

This article investigates the consequences of school-based approach in decentralizing the curriculum development system as a major contemporary educational concern. There are different standpoints concerning this approach in Iran’s educational system. According to some experts، the current national curriculum development system is unable to meet the constantly changing educational demands; on the contrary، others emphasize its pursuit. School-based curriculum development assumes that the best place to develop a curriculum is where teachers and students interact. Unlike the traditional national curriculum، in which teachers are regarded merely as enforcers، the school-based curriculum allocates a more prominent role to the teacher. Moreover، students also feel that learning is more relevant to their immediate needs. Curriculum also becomes more flexible and can be conveniently integrated with new materials and emerging concerns. However، school-based curriculum development is deeply influenced by factors such as national educational objectives، learners، available facilities، cultural context، educational environment، assessment strategies، as well as the limits of schools’ authority to modify curricula.