A Competency or Capability-Based Approach in Schools?

Abstract

Competencies have been the subject of considerable discussion in pedagogy, particularly in relation to the mandate of the education system. In the last decade, a different view has emerged, from a capability and human development approach. On the one hand, this paper seeks to question the sense of a competency-based approach to education and, on the other hand, present the capability approach as an opportunity to establish a humanistic and alternative view of education. Thus, by using the hermeneutic arc as a methodological approach – specifically the “explaining” and “understanding” processes described by Ricœur – a critical conceptualization of competencies is described in order to show that people are subjects of capabilities rather than competencies. It is concluded that any educational endeavor that pursues human development must be firmly rooted in the realization of people as subjects-agents of capabilities.