‘역량’은 본래 직업 훈련이나 교육 분야에서 사용되어 오던 용어이다. 그러나 최근 들어 이 용어는
학교교육과 관련한 논의에서도 쉽게 발견할 수 있다. ‘핵심기술’(core skill)이나 ‘핵심역량’(key
competency) 등 교육계에서 사용하는 역량관련 용어는 이러한 관심을 반영한다. 특히 최근 들어
OECD가 역량의 개념을 우리의 전체적인 삶의 질의 향상을 위해 필요한 것으로 규정하면서, 학교교
육이 이와 관련한 논의에 무관심할 수 없게 되었다.
이 글은 최근 교육계에서 자주 회자되는 ‘역량’이라는 것이 무엇이며, 이것이 학교교육, 특히 교육
과정과 관련하여 어떤 의미를 지니는지를 탐색해 보는 데에 그 궁극적인 목적이 있다. 이를 위해서
이 글에서는 일반적으로 논의되는 ‘역량’의 의미와 성격을 탐색해 보고, 학교교육의 맥락에서 역량이
어떤 의미를 가지며 그와 관련된 쟁점은 무엇인지를 검토한 후, 역량 담론이 교육과정에 함의하는 바
를 논의해 보고자 한다.
'Competency' has been used in the field of vocational training and education. But recently we can find the terminology easily in the discourse on schooling. Competencyrelated terminologies such as 'core skill' and 'core competency' being used in the world of education reflect this trend. Especially, as the OECD defined the concept of competency as the necessary ability to improve the quality of our whole life, educators became more interested in the discourse on competency. This study was to explore what competency is, and what the meaning and implications of competency is in the context of schooling. In order to obtain this aim, I investigated the concept and nature of competency. Then, I reviewed the meaning and some issues that the notion of competency gave to the context of schooling. Lastly, I discussed some implications that the competency-based approach entailed for the school curriculum.
'Competency' has been used in the field of vocational training and education. But recently we can find the terminology easily in the discourse on schooling. Competencyrelated terminologies such as 'core skill' and 'core competency' being used in the world of education reflect this trend. Especially, as the OECD defined the concept of competency as the necessary ability to improve the quality of our whole life, educators became more interested in the discourse on competency. This study was to explore what competency is, and what the meaning and implications of competency is in the context of schooling. In order to obtain this aim, I investigated the concept and nature of competency. Then, I reviewed the meaning and some issues that the notion of competency gave to the context of schooling. Lastly, I discussed some implications that the competency-based approach entailed for the school curriculum.