Kelly Card and Rosalee VanStalduinen
Comparative and International Education
Educational Leadership

GROWING GLOBALLY MINDED CITIZENS IN THE DESERT: A COMPARATIVE CURRICULA ANALYSIS OF TWO SCHOOLS IN KUWAIT

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the possibility and value of establishing an internationally focused curriculum in a middle-eastern, Islamic state.  The study is based on the comparative curriculum analysis of two schools in Kuwait City, Kuwait and an examination of their shared vision and their differing pedagogical approaches to curriculum in light of the political, religious and cultural environment.  The curriculum analysis is based on an examination of the relevant official curriculum documentation and mission statements of each school, as well as surveys that solicit the impressions of teachers regarding the success of their school in achieving their respective missions.

The authors identify three common challenges. First, both schools have a climate which contains elements incompatible with global values.  Second, both schools present an inconsistent approach to ensuring that intercultural and internationally focused curriculum is being created and delivered.  And third, both schools operate under unclear rights for expatriate workers, thus creating an uncertain and somewhat fearful environment for everyone from administration to the maintenance. The authors also raise the following questions. Who defines the truly global perspective? And what aught schools in Kuwait or elsewhere consider as they set out on developing citizenship for the new world?

To learn more, please contact Tamara Palmer at tlp205@lehigh.edu or 610.758.3226.