HIDDEN CURRICULUM
Dorina Wong Ming / Irene Tiong / Soon Ming Hui /
Tan Siok Yong / Yap Sze Miin / Kok Jia Xuan
Definition & Concept
A term used to describe the unwritten social rules and
expectations of behaviour that we all seem to know, but
were never taught. (Bieber, 1994)
Consists of those things pupils learn through the
experience of school rather than the stated educational
objectives of such institutions. (Haralambos, 1991)
A body of knowledge learnt by students through their
presence in the school. (Razvani, 2002)
Definition & Concept
An implicit curriculum that expresses and represents
attitudes, knowledge, and behaviours, which are
conveyed or communicated without aware intent. (Jerald,
2006)
A set of learning in an educational system realized within
the dominant culture in an educational environment which
are provided for the students without awareness of faculty
members and students. (Eisner, 1994)
Definition & Concept
A set of influences that function at the level of
organizational structure and culture. (Hafferty, 1998)
Students go through a process of professional identity
formation. Rules of community and culture are learned
through non-overt attitudes and behaviours of peers,
educators, administrators, and others. (Hafferty and
Franks, 1994)
Features of Hidden Curriculum
Unstudied
Curriculum
By-product
Implicit
of
Curriculum
schooling
Hidden
Curriculum
Covert Latent
Curriculum Curriculum
Implication of Hidden Curriculum
If students earn good grades or turning in homework on
time and generally doing things they are told to do, the
students may learn that compliance is important and
that good behaviours will be academically rewarded.
Project-based learning or community-based learning
communicate specific messages, such as critical
thinking and problem solving, and attributes such as
persistence, resourcefulness, and self-motivation.
Implication of Hidden Curriculum
A very strict dress-code policies in schools may
communicate that students will be judged by the society
on appearances from time to time.
If an English class assigns reading material with different
races in Malaysia, this may teach students to appreciate
the cultures and background of various races in our
country.
Hidden Curriculum in the Classroom
Type A: Character education
Defined as a planned and systematic approach in terms
of self- respect, responsibility and honesty for being a
good citizen.
The elements possessed in are values, beliefs, attitudes,
and norms and values which are important parts of school
function, ceremonies and the quality of interpersonal
communication.
Hidden Curriculum in the Classroom
Aims:
1. Become more structured and organized
Examples: time scheduling of classes and other school
activities, examinations, special programme such as speech
therapy, grading and grouping policies
2. Convey disciplined messages
Examples: students are sitting up straight and are continually
quiet; students getting in and standing in line silently; students
quietly raising their hands to be called on
Hidden Curriculum in the Classroom
Aims:
1. Become more structured and organized
Examples: time scheduling of classes and other school
activities, examinations, special programme such as speech
therapy, grading and grouping policies
2. Convey disciplined messages
Examples: students are sitting up straight and are continually
quiet; students getting in and standing in line silently; students
quietly raising their hands to be called on
Hidden Curriculum in the Classroom
Type B: Academic classroom
Example:
If an English class assigns reading material with various
stories set in the Malaysia and other countries, this may
teach students that our school systems appreciate other
cultures and languages. The influence of this can lead to a
positive self-image or having interest for reading.
Strategies to Implement Hidden
Curriculum (Inside the Classroom)
Ask questions
Develop a safe person
Watch and imitate those around
them
Asking questions:
Give students permission to ask questions and teaching
them to advocate for themselves.
For instance, if you (pupil) dont know the proper attire for
an event such as annual dinner, ask the teachers or
peers.
If pupils arent sure of the expectations of a teacher, self-
advocate and ask after the first class meeting to avoid
problems.
Develop a safe person
Safe person is someone that can be trusted to have the
students best interest at heart at all times.
For example: family member or a best friend or even more
people.
We all have safe people or people we know are going to
have a good idea of how we should behave in certain
situations.
Develop a safe person
This safe people will give pupils an honest answer and not
an answer that might get them in trouble.
It might not be a problem if you ask your friend if your
about your appearance before you meet with your
discipline teacher. However, if you ask the person you are
meeting with, it might be problematic.
Watch and imitate those around them
Teach students to imitate those around them, through the
use of modelling.
This helps pupils know how to behave in unfamiliar
situations.
Hidden Curriculum Outside the Classroom
Pupils participation in extra curricular activities
Supportive activities of hidden curriculum
The activities allow pupils to observe a variety of practices
and values.
Pupils can practise the values learnt in the classroom
when they are involving in the activities.
Hidden Curriculum Outside the Classroom
The activities also enable pupils to enhance the
communication and interaction among themselves.
Extra curricular activities can be considered as the strong
value gaining tools as pupils has the opportunity to
comprehend, internalize and perform values.
Elements and values acquired through the activities are
regarded as the hidden curriculum.
Hidden Curriculum Outside the Classroom
The hidden curriculum indirectly helps to develop the
overall potential of pupils as stated in the National
Philosophy of Education.
Pupils will become the effective and productive citizens
firstly at school and then in a larger society.
Social Club
Sportive activities Work
Strategies
to
Implement
Hidden
Curriculum
Celebration of
Special Days
and Weeks
Sportive Activities
Family Sports Days or School Sports Days
values acquired:
Cooperation and Teamwork
Listen to each other
Never give up to achieve the goals
Respect each other
Justice and Honesty
Celebration of Special Days and Weeks
Teachers Day or The School Anniversary
Values acquired:
Appreciate the hard work
Grateful
Respect
Social Club Works
Visit Old Folks Home, program with special needs
children, donation and others..
Values acquired:
Grateful
Appreciate what we have
Help each other (help within our limit)
Love and Compassion
References
Bieber, J. (1994). Learning disabilities and social skills with
Richard Lavoie: Last one pickedFirst one picked on.
Washington, DC: Public Broadcasting Service.
Eisner, E. (1994). Educational imagination: On the design and
evaluation of school program. New York: Macmillan
College Publishing Company.
Hafferty, F., & Franks, R. (1994). The hidden curriculum, ethics
teaching, and the structure of medical education.
Academic Medicine, 69: 861-71.
References
Hafferty, F. (1998). Beyond curriculum reform: confronting
medicines hidden curriculum. Academic Medicine,
73(4): 403-407.
Haralambos, M. (1991). Sociology: Themes and
perspectives (3rd ed.). Collins Educational.
Jerald, C. D. (2006). School culture: The hidden
curriculum. Washington, DC: The Center for
Comprehensive School Reform and
Improvement.
References
Razvani, M., & Kianinezhad, R. (2002). Attention to
hidden curriculum as an explicit necessity to
realize values of religious teachings. Tehran:
Tarbiat Modares University Press.
Longstreet, W.S. and Shane, H.G. (1993) Curriculum for a
new millennium. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1899/Curriculu
m-School-HIDDEN-CURRICULUM.html
References
ubuku, Z. (2012). The Effect of Hidden Curriculum on
Character Education Process of Primary School
Students. Retrieved from http://www.kuyeb.com/pdf/en/
Importance of School Extracurricular Activities in Teaching Moral
Values. (2017). Retrieved from Owlcation Website:
https://owlcation.com/academia/Importance-of-
School-Extra-curricular-Activities-in-Teaching-Moral-
Values
