Panel Review of AKU-EB Syllabus Revision Cycle Concludes

The Aga Khan University Examination Board’s (AKU-EB) Curriculum and Examination Development (C&ED) team successfully completed the panel review of the third cycle of syllabus revision. This exercise represents the most important stage of the syllabus revision process, during which consensus is reached on what changes will improve the quality of the syllabi. 

Syllabus revision at AKU-EB is a comprehensive process which engages multiple stakeholders. The key objectives of the syllabus revision process include reviewing the content of the syllabi in order to ensure they are up to date and relevant, ensuring the constant development of higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills, ensuring the readiness of students for higher education, and ensuring that the needs of direct and indirect stakeholders (such as teachers, students, school leaders and university faculty who will go on to teach the same students) are addressed. 

The process begins with a needs assessment exercise which sees students and teachers give their feedback and input on the current syllabi, ensuring their needs are identified. These needs are shared with the syllabus revision panelists, enabling them to make informed decisions during the activity to follow. 

The panel consists of teachers from schools primarily affiliated with AKU-EB, but also includes unaffiliated institutions to ensure as many diverse perspectives as possible are present. This year’s panel saw a greater diverse among unaffiliated institutions represented than had ever been the case before. 

AKU-EB also includes schools at different levels of achievement within its own system so that the diverse conditions of teaching and learning are accounted for. The panel can also include instructors who teach grades both above and below those of the syllabi being revised, in order to account for progression and continuity in learning among students. 

The next step to follow during this year’s cycle will take place in June. It will see multiple internal reviews, further teacher and student reviews, and a final university preparedness review to ensure that the syllabus effectively equips students with the skills and content required for higher education. This will be followed by a dissemination process which will see the final changes communicated to relevant institutions. 

As was the case with the last two syllabus review cycles, the third cycle was great success. Participants enthusiastically participated in the review panels and all tasks were completed on time. The process was a good learning experience for the AKU-EB team and for all the teachers participated in it.