Analysis of the world views reflected in the 1970 and 2014 Finnish national curricula for basic education –Similarities and differences
Vitikainen, Aino (2020)
2020
Luokanopettaja, kasvatustieteen maisterin tutkinto - Teacher Education, Master of Arts (education)
Kasvatustieteiden ja kulttuurin tiedekunta - Faculty of Education and Culture
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2020-06-04
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202005135266
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202005135266
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study is to examine what world views the 1970 and 2014 Finnish national curricula for basic education reflect. In the study, education is seen as political activity and the national curriculum as a tool for ideological hegemony. Therefore, understanding the world views and ideologies reflected in the curriculum is essential for the teachers following the guidelines of the national curriculum. In recent years, Finnish politics has been changed by secularisation, globalisation and the increased threat of climate change. The study considers the political aspect of the curriculum by demonstrating how the national curriculum adapts according to the religious and political context of the society. This is done by comparing the world views reflected in the curricula to establish the changes the national curriculum has gone through between 1970 and 2014.
Content analysis was used to examine the 1970 and 2014 curricula to identify and categorise beliefs about epistemology, value theory and conception of the world which, according to the theoretical framework used in the study, capture the essence of world view.
The research results revealed that the world view reflected in the Finnish national curriculum for basic education has changed from one notably influenced by patriotic and religious beliefs into one becoming more broadminded regarding philosophical questions and emphasising both global and ecological perspectives. However, some ideologies have stayed intact: Both curricula emphasise the importance of equality, the basic principles of democracy and value both individualism and collectivism.
Content analysis was used to examine the 1970 and 2014 curricula to identify and categorise beliefs about epistemology, value theory and conception of the world which, according to the theoretical framework used in the study, capture the essence of world view.
The research results revealed that the world view reflected in the Finnish national curriculum for basic education has changed from one notably influenced by patriotic and religious beliefs into one becoming more broadminded regarding philosophical questions and emphasising both global and ecological perspectives. However, some ideologies have stayed intact: Both curricula emphasise the importance of equality, the basic principles of democracy and value both individualism and collectivism.