Exploring the Global Emergence of Social Studies at Junior Secondary School: A Glance on Literature Review

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to review literature on the emergence of the contemporary Social Studies on a global scale. It has been established that there is a controversy among Scholars on the global emergence of Social Studies, its definition, content and purpose. The paper has also established that Social Studies was being taught by teachers who are specialised in other social science subjects such as History, Geography, Civic Education among others. It has also been noted that Social Studies teachers face a number of challenges during their course of duty such as lack of teaching and learning materials, marginalisation of the subject by relevant authorities, limited instructional time and substandard text books used among others. Therefore, the established challenges have even contributed to poor academic performance of learners in Social Studies which is being experienced globally more especially in developing countries. Consequently, it is recommended that the government through Ministry of General Education (MoGE) should train and recruit qualified and competent Social Studies teachers to teach the subject at junior secondary school across the country to mitigate the challenge of the subject being taught by teachers trained in different subjects. Also, the MoGE and the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) should collaborate and allocate more periods to the subject from the current 6 periods per week. Furthermore, it is recommended that the MoGE should strengthen Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities in schools in order to reinvigorate pedagogies among Social Studies teachers. In addition, the government through the Ministry of Finance (MoF) should allocate more financial resources to the MoGE so that teaching/learning materials are procured for various schools across the country. Lastly, it is recommended that Social Studies teachers should integrate a variety of methods, techniques and strategies during the teaching process to enhance subject delivery.

Investigation into the Challenges Experienced by School Management Teams (SMTs) Post-Pandemic in Rural High Schools in the Mopani-West Education District

“…As highlighted by Meier and West (2020), deteriorating structures and overcrowded classrooms foster an environment unsuitable for effective teaching and learning. Mufalo et al (2021) noted that the scarcity of resources such as textbooks, teaching materials, and technological equipment significantly restricts learners' access to current and pertinent educational content. As per Garan (2022), the lack of resources increases teacher frustration and demotivation, impeding their ability to provide quality education due to inadequate tools and materials.…”

“…Societal issues such as domestic violence and substance abuse further complicate learner behaviour and attitudes toward education, compounding the hurdles for teachers and administrators alike. Another study by Mufalo et al (2021) titled "Challenges faced by combined schools in Masaiti District which hinders the provision of quality education" uncovered the multitude of challenges confronting combined schools in Masaiti district, hindering the provision of quality education. A glaring issue was the shortage of teaching and learning materials, including textbooks, undermining both teachers' instructional effectiveness and learners' learning experiences.…”

“…Both studies recognised societal factors such as poverty, unemployment, and familial issues impacting education, with Guran (2022) emphasising absenteeism and behavioural problems stemming from broader societal issues like domestic violence and substance abuse. Mufalo et al (2021) noted negative parental attitudes toward education and the lack of boarding facilities affecting learners' safety and academic performance. Despite the findings of the study being similar to those the two previous studies with respect to socio-economic issues such as poverty and unemployment, those studies indicated that poverty and unemployment were the major causes of the poor academic performance of the learners (Guran, 2022;Mufalo et al, 2021).…”

“…Mufalo et al (2021) noted negative parental attitudes toward education and the lack of boarding facilities affecting learners' safety and academic performance. Despite the findings of the study being similar to those the two previous studies with respect to socio-economic issues such as poverty and unemployment, those studies indicated that poverty and unemployment were the major causes of the poor academic performance of the learners (Guran, 2022;Mufalo et al, 2021). On the contrary, the current study revealed teacher shortage as a challenge while Guran (2022) and Mufalo et al (2021) found teachers' lack of commitment as a factor that compromises good academic performance.…”

The Application of Place-Based Education in Social Studies of Grade 5 Bhutanese Students

“…4) Preserve and promote national identity. Social Studies provide learners with relevant competencies to enhance critical thinking as well as the ability to relate well with friends, families, and other social groupings for the benefit of society as a whole (Mufalo et al, 2021). Social Studies help students to understand the importance of the origin, learn their history, and develop a civic sense.…”