Cross-curricular themes and lesson hours outlined by legislation and government policy to be implemented at schools

Abstract

This study aims to explore the issues and problems of the cross-curricular themes and lesson hours outlined by legislation and government policy which directly affect the school curriculum. They become a part of a school curriculum without the national curriculum governed by「Elementary and Secondary Education Act」and「Enforce Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act」. In this way they give a significant burden on the learning of students and distort the autonomy of individual schools. In relation to the cross-curricular themes and lesson hours, first, the factors that influence directly in the school curriculum are studied. Second, the demanding hours and different kinds of themes, and its characteristics are analyzed. Third, the issues and challenges are discussed in terms of legislation, government policy, the national, regional and school curriculum, and quality management systems. The suggestions are in the following. First, setting up an adjustment office or organization in the ministry of education, second, establishment of law and securing education experts to adjust the conflicts among the cross-curricular themes, the national, regional, and school curriculum, third, a way to deal with the cross-curricular themes and lesson hours in the boundary of the national curriculum, fourth, including minimum provisions and guidance about the cross-curricular themes and lesson hours in the national and the regional curriculum, and fifth, the continuous feedback and improvement efforts through curriculum evaluation are recommended.