Curriculum Innovation: The Complexities of Implementing General Information Technology at School Level

The purpose of this study was to explore how General Information Technology (GIT) is implemented in the General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) Advanced Level (A/L) curriculum in Sri Lanka. The specific objectives were to examine the factors affecting the implementation of GIT as an innovation at school level, to understand the views of students and teachers on implementing GIT, and to explore the strengths and weaknesses of implementing GIT as an innovation. The study is exploratory, constructivist, and qualitative in nature. The multiple-case study design was used to have an in-depth study. A purposive sample of two urban schools was selected within the Kandy Educational Zone, where there are Computer Learning Centres (CLCs) that currently teach GIT. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis. The theoretical framework was informed by Fullan’s Interactive Factors Affecting Implementation Model. The following themes emerged in the analysis: lack of sufficient awareness of aims and objectives of implementing GIT by teachers and students, poor physical resources and infrastructure in the CLC, less enthusiasm among students due to rules and regulations in the CLC, poor teacher professional development programmes, weak administration in the school, poor monitoring systems of the Ministry of Education, Provincial Department of Education, Zonal Education Office, and the school, and lack of adequate support from the family for the students to learn GIT. Due to the above reasons, both teachers and students were less enthusiastic about the implementation of GIT. Measures such as providing required physical resources and maintenance from the Ministry of Education, revising the syllabus to fulfil students’ needs that align with the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) guidelines, and establishing a proper monitoring system are recommended.