Teaching of social science learning area in the context of curriculum change in senior phase of General Education and Training Band (GET) in schools under Empangeni education circuit

Abstract

This study sets out to investigate the teaching of social sciences learning area in the context of curriculum change in the Senior Phase of the GET band. The main purpose of this study is to investigate educators’ experience and competence in the teaching of social sciences. The study targeted Senior Phase educators in the GET band because they had significant experience in teaching the new broad-field curriculum. This study is located within the interpretative paradigm using the methodology of critical analysis. It uses the mixed-mode approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. Sampling of the participants was random owing to the poor accessibility of some schools in the circuit. The first research instrument was administered to Senior Phase educators to solicit their experiences of teaching learning areas since the implementation of NCS introduced the interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning in schools. The second research instrument was the interview, followed by observation, to collect information on educators’ perception on a broad-field curriculum which advocates an integrated approach to the teaching of history and geography in schools. The third instrument was an in-depth interview which was used together with focus groups to solicit information about educators’ disciplinary and pedagogical knowledge, both of which are necessary for teaching history and geography as one discipline. The results showed that social science educators are still facing challenges with regard to the integrated teaching of history and geography. The results of the study have revealed that social science teachers in the Senior Phase are still teaching history and geography as distinct fields of knowledge. The critical analysis of findings has indicated that teachers’ ability to understand the broad-field nature of social science is still weak and its implementation is in conflict with the policy guidelines of integration.