7th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION (SSTE)

Abstract

The 21stcentury education is about giving students the skills they need to succeed in this new world and helping them develop the confidence to practice those skills. With so much information readily available to them, the 21stcentury skills focus more on making sense of that information, sharing and using it in smart ways. There are several reasons for questioning how well the current school curriculum is equipping students for life and work in the 21st Century. The 21stcentury curriculum also suggests “abandonment of textbookdriven knowledge, teachercentered mode of instruction, paper and pencil schooling”. It means a new way of understanding the concept of “knowledge” and a new definition of the “educated person”. Consequently, a new way of designing and delivering the curriculum is required. The twentyfirstcentury curriculum is: “interdisciplinary, projectbased, and researchdriven. It is connected to the community – local, state, national and global. Hence, the theme of this conference is apt and provides opportunities where experts brainstorm so that international communities can benefit from one another and also respond to curriculum issues in science and technology education in the 21st century. Curriculum issues are capable of enhancing quality teaching and learning process. It is worthy to note that, the implementation of the 21stcentury curriculum would have a greater influence on the quality of manpower injected into the labour market which may determine the economic growth of any nation. The theme and subthemes of this conference, “Curriculum Issues in Science and Technology Education in the 21st Century” are based on the prevailing situation of poor quality education in developing nations. I am sure this conference has provided an avenue for researchers and educators to share their ideas on the 21stcentury curriculum issues that can enhance quality education and selfreliance in underdeveloped and developing nations across the world. I hope the theme and subthemes meet the needs of the stakeholders in education. The subthemes are: • Curriculum Issues and Security Challenges • Curriculum Issues and Labour Market Demands • Curriculum Issues and Advancement in Science Education • Curriculum Issues and Innovations in Technology Education • Curriculum Issues and Industrial Demands • Curriculum Issues and Health Demands • Curriculum Issues in Language and Information Communication and Technology • Curriculum Issues and Innovations in Special Education • Curriculum Issues in Agricultural Science and Food Security • Curriculum Issues in Entrepreneurial Education