Content analysis of textbooks at lower secondary education in terms of Global issues related to curriculum

This study was concerned with the content analysis of textbooks at lower secondary education. The issues of interest in this study were underpinning principles of new approaches in curriculum development, resulted from globalization, rapidly expanding borders of knowledge, and the interconnection of people worldwide. They are as follows: development education, environmental education, human rights education, peace education, equality education, health education, multicultural education, media education and information technology. These themes and concepts are also followed byUNESCO and UNICEF. One of these programs called ìglobal educationî was piloted in the Islamic Republic of Iran among other countries. Results suggested that environmental education, and multicultural education were promoted well above the expected level whereas civic education and development education were promoted as expected. On the contrary, education about health, equality, peace, human rights, media and information technology was found below the expected level. The attention paid to subcategories of each was found imbalanced.