Crafting 21st Century Curricula for 21st Century Skills Prof Maluleke’s Insights

Crafting 21st Century Curricula for 21st Century Skills Prof Maluleke’s Insights. Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), recently delivered a keynote address at the Vhembe TVET College Curriculum Summit in Limpopo on October 11, 2023.

Crafting 21st Century Curricula for 21st Century Skills Prof Maluleke’s Insights

The focus of his talk centered around addressing the curriculum crisis within the South African Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector.

Manifestations of Curriculum Crisis

Prof Maluleke highlighted and illustrated various manifestations of the curriculum crisis, particularly emphasizing the ‘mismatch between higher education skills and job market requirements.’

He argued that the issue of unemployed and unemployable graduates stems from a curriculum that doesn’t align with societal and economic needs.

Curriculum Relevance in the 4IR Era

Emphasizing the challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Prof Maluleke pointed out that a curriculum rooted in 20th-century educational philosophies falls short in preparing graduates for this era.

Training for professions facing fundamental changes due to automation and Artificial Intelligence requires a curriculum overhaul.

Reskilling and Upskilling Imperative

To address the evolving landscape, Prof Maluleke advocated for a massive program of reskilling and upskilling, extending beyond the workforce to encompass society as a whole. PSET curricula, in his view, must be adapted to meet these broader needs.

Fundamental Principles for 21st Century Curricula

Prof Maluleke proposed fundamental principles for 21st-century curriculum development. He urged that PSET curricula should draw inspiration from key developmental documents, including the South African National Development Plan (NDP), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. These documents, he argued, implicitly and explicitly outline the diverse skills required in the current global context.

Focus Areas for Curriculum Development

Highlighting the NDP’s designation of TVET colleges as “the backbone of technical vocation and training,” Prof Maluleke encouraged these institutions to surpass the goal of producing 30,000 artisans annually by 2030.

He stressed the importance of incorporating compulsory components such as work-integrated learning, AI education, entrepreneurship, and addressing Gender-Based Violence in all curricula.

Conclusion

Prof Maluleke’s insights emphasize the urgent need to tailor curricula to the demands of the 21st century, aligning education with the dynamic requirements of the contemporary world.

Prof Maluleke Speec at Vhembe College