The concept of the null curriculum was introduced by Elliot Eisner (1979), who argued that schools teach in three ways simultaneously: the explicit curriculum, the implicit curriculum, and the null curriculum.

• The explicit curriculum refers to the formal, publicly announced program of study. This is what schools advertise and officially provide, typically including subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, physical education, and the arts.
• The implicit curriculum consists of the values, attitudes, and expectations that students acquire indirectly through their interactions and experiences at school, even though these are not formally included in the official syllabus.
• The null curriculum, as defined by Eisner, refers to what schools do not teach: “…the options students are not afforded, the perspectives they may never know about, much less be able to use, the concepts and skills that are not part of their intellectual repertoire” (1985, p. 107).

Dimensions of the Null Curriculum

The null curriculum can be understood across multiple dimensions:

1. Intellectual Processes: Certain cognitive skills or ways of thinking may be excluded from instruction.
2. Subject Matter: Topics or disciplines that are omitted entirely from the curriculum. For example, excluding the theory of evolution in a biology class is a form of null content.
3. Affective or Emotional Learning: The development of attitudes, values, and perspectives that are left out of educational experiences.

Null curriculum may also operate at the sub-field level within a subject, where particular topics or specific content are intentionally or unintentionally excluded. For example, failing to teach philosophy, ethics, or certain cultural histories constitutes null content.

Examples and Potentials of Null Curriculum

Subjects or skills often excluded from traditional curricula, but which have high potential value, include:

• Visual and performing arts (painting, music, drama)
• Relationship education and sexuality
• Knowledge of contraceptive methods
• Second language learning or bilingual education
• Home economics and life skills
• Carpentry, industrial arts, and vocational skills
• Basic survival and practical life skills

By including these previously excluded areas, schools can broaden the educational experience, providing students with knowledge and skills that are otherwise overlooked.

Contribution of Null Curriculum to Students

The null curriculum affects students in several important ways:

• Cultural and Political Significance: The exclusion of certain topics communicates societal judgments about what is considered important or valuable.
• Broader Understanding: Filling gaps left by the null curriculum increases knowledge, deepens understanding, fosters acceptance, and encourages collaboration among students.
• Alternative Perspectives and Methods: Exclusions are not only about content; they can also involve teaching methods, approaches, or modes of expression.
• Holistic Development: Addressing null curriculum areas can help create well-rounded learners with diverse skills and perspectives.

Establishment and Causes of Null Curriculum

The null curriculum arises due to various practical, social, and institutional reasons:

1. Avoiding Controversy: Teachers may deliberately skip controversial topics to prevent conflict in the classroom.
2. Administrative Decisions: School administrators may exclude content to satisfy organizational goals or priorities.
3. Community and Parental Expectations: Curriculum often reflects local community standards, values, and preferences, which can lead to the omission of certain subjects or perspectives.

In essence, the null curriculum is not merely what is ignored, but what schools actively or passively exclude, shaping students’ understanding of what knowledge, skills, and experiences are deemed significant in their society.

Conclusion

The null curriculum highlights the hidden impact of what is left out of formal education. By recognizing and addressing these exclusions, educators can create a more inclusive, balanced, and meaningful curriculum. Awareness of null curriculum encourages schools to examine which perspectives, skills, and knowledge are missing and to take deliberate steps to ensure students receive a more comprehensive education.