A competency is defined
as the ability to use an appropriate combination of knowledge, skills,
attitudes, and values in order to accomplish a particular task successfully.
That is, the ability to apply to learn with confidence in a range of
situations.
To be competent is, for
example:
• To be
able to prepare a balanced diet rather than making a list of components of a
balanced diet only;
• To adopt good practices of preparing and
drinking clean water rather than only listing the qualities of clean drinking
water and;
• To be able to communicate fluently and
accurately with others in everyday life situations rather than simply knowing
grammatical rules and being able to produce lists of vocabulary.
A competency-based
curriculum takes learning to higher levels by providing challenging and
engaging learning experiences which require deep thinking rather than just
memorization. This means moving beyond the recall of information to a level of
sufficient understanding for learners to apply their learning in practical
situations.
