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Page 1: GOALS OF TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS

GOALS OF

TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES

Page 2: GOALS OF TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS

THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUSTHE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS

Page 3: GOALS OF TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS THE SECONDARY SS SYLLABUS

BackgroundBackground

In Singapore, Social Studies provides In Singapore, Social Studies provides another avenue for the teaching of another avenue for the teaching of National Education through the formal National Education through the formal curriculum. (NE was introduced in 1997)curriculum. (NE was introduced in 1997)

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At the Teachers' Day Rally in September 2006, then At the Teachers' Day Rally in September 2006, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong outlined the Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong outlined the challenges to our education system.challenges to our education system.

A key imperative was National Education. Many A key imperative was National Education. Many Singaporeans, especially pupils and younger Singaporeans, especially pupils and younger Singaporeans, knew little of our recent history. They Singaporeans, knew little of our recent history. They did not know how we became an independent did not know how we became an independent nation, how we triumphed against long odds, or how nation, how we triumphed against long odds, or how today's peaceful and prosperous Singapore came today's peaceful and prosperous Singapore came about about

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“ “ This ignorance will hinder our effort to develop This ignorance will hinder our effort to develop a shared sense of nationhood. We will not a shared sense of nationhood. We will not acquire the right instincts to bond together as acquire the right instincts to bond together as one nation, or maintain the will to survive and one nation, or maintain the will to survive and prosper in an uncertain world. For Singapore to prosper in an uncertain world. For Singapore to thrive beyond the founder generation, we must thrive beyond the founder generation, we must systematically transmit these instincts and systematically transmit these instincts and attitudes to succeeding cohorts. Through attitudes to succeeding cohorts. Through National Education, we must make these National Education, we must make these instincts and attitudes part of the cultural DNA instincts and attitudes part of the cultural DNA which makes us Singaporeans” .which makes us Singaporeans” .

SPEECH BY BG LEE HSIEN LOONG, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AT THE LAUNCH OF NATIONAL EDUCATION ON SATURDAY 17 MAY 1997 AT TCS TV THEATRE AT 9.30 AM

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SS was thus introduced in 2001 based on the SS was thus introduced in 2001 based on the recommendations made by the NE Committee in recommendations made by the NE Committee in 1997. 1997. SS Syllabus was organised around the six NE SS Syllabus was organised around the six NE messages. messages.

FocusFocus Singapore’s road to nationhoodSingapore’s road to nationhood Principles of governancePrinciples of governance regional and international developmentsregional and international developments issues which would affect survival and growth of issues which would affect survival and growth of Singapore in a competitive world.Singapore in a competitive world.

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6 We have confidence in our future.

We must preserve racial and religious harmony.

We must uphold meritocracy and incorruptibility

No one owes Singapore a living.

We must ourselves defend Singapore.

Singapore is our homeland; this is where we belong

NE MESSAGES

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to instil in our students a sense of national to instil in our students a sense of national identity identity

to build in them a deep sense of commitment to build in them a deep sense of commitment towards the nation as responsible citizens. towards the nation as responsible citizens.

to develop in them a more mature global outlook to develop in them a more mature global outlook by learning from the experiences of developed by learning from the experiences of developed and developing countries in building socially and developing countries in building socially cohesive and economically viable societies cohesive and economically viable societies

GOALS OF SOCIAL STUDIES

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At the upper secondary level, the Social At the upper secondary level, the Social Studies syllabus is organised around the Studies syllabus is organised around the six National Education (NE) themes six National Education (NE) themes

It focuses on Singapore’s road to It focuses on Singapore’s road to nationhood, principles of governance, nationhood, principles of governance, regional and international developments, regional and international developments, and issues which may affect the survival and issues which may affect the survival and growth of Singapore in a competitive and growth of Singapore in a competitive world world

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Review of the SS SyllabusReview of the SS Syllabus

Based on the six-year curriculum review Based on the six-year curriculum review cycle, a mid-term syllabus review was cycle, a mid-term syllabus review was conducted in 2003. conducted in 2003.

- Syllabus was reduced and content which - Syllabus was reduced and content which were outdated and examples that were were outdated and examples that were inappropriate were removed. inappropriate were removed.

- Content cut represented 31.7% of the - Content cut represented 31.7% of the 2001 syllabus.2001 syllabus.

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Why review?Why review?

To make the subject stay relevant and To make the subject stay relevant and future oriented to meet the needs of our future oriented to meet the needs of our students and society.students and society.To include new thrusts in education for To include new thrusts in education for e.g. Innovation and Enterprise.e.g. Innovation and Enterprise.To infuse NE messages subtly rather than To infuse NE messages subtly rather than using them as an on going framework.using them as an on going framework.Minimise content overlap with History and Minimise content overlap with History and Geography.Geography.

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Head, Heart, Hands FrameworkHead, Heart, Hands FrameworkRecommended by the Committee on NE in March 2007, and guides the next phase of NE.

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Being Rooted Living Global

2007 REVISED SOCIAL SYLLABUS

Two twin core ideas

A thematic approach is adopted to organise the syllabus content so that Students can make connections among the different topics, enabling them to understand the key issues affecting Singapore and the world.

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2007 Revised Syllabus

Aims & Objectives

develop our students into well-informed, responsible citizens with a national identity and able to understand the issues that affect the socio- economic developments, the governance and the future of Singapore; learn from the experiences of other countries to build and sustain a politically, viable, socially cohesive and economically vibrant Singapore;

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develop thinking and process skills which are

essential for lifelong and independent learning;

have a deep sense of shared destiny and

national identity

develop into citizens who have empathy

towards others and will participate responsibly and sensibly in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society and develop into responsible citizens with a global perspective.

Aims & Objectives

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Study the past through varied socio -cultural perspectives over time Study the past through varied socio -cultural perspectives over time and space;and space;Understand the structure of govt and its function in a contemporary Understand the structure of govt and its function in a contemporary societysocietyRecognise importance of good governance and the roles and Recognise importance of good governance and the roles and responsibilities of effective citizensresponsibilities of effective citizensunderstand the dynamics of living in a multi-ethnic environment and understand the dynamics of living in a multi-ethnic environment and recognise the significance of social cohesion within a diverse recognise the significance of social cohesion within a diverse society;society;Understand the scarcity of resources affects the way in which Understand the scarcity of resources affects the way in which resources are allocated and managed and recognise that informed resources are allocated and managed and recognise that informed decisions are made base on the choices available; anddecisions are made base on the choices available; andUnderstand the global interconnectedness and interdependence Understand the global interconnectedness and interdependence among world societies and recognise the need to adapt to the among world societies and recognise the need to adapt to the changing world environment.changing world environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

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Appreciate the implications of various decisions, actions Appreciate the implications of various decisions, actions and relationshipsand relationshipsRespect and value diverse perspectives and cultural and Respect and value diverse perspectives and cultural and historical backgrounds of people and work towards historical backgrounds of people and work towards peaceful relationshipspeaceful relationshipsAppreciate the importance of living in an interdependent Appreciate the importance of living in an interdependent community with increasing global connectionscommunity with increasing global connectionsRecognise the value of participating as ethical, active Recognise the value of participating as ethical, active and informed citizens in a democratic society within a and informed citizens in a democratic society within a global communityglobal communityExperience and appreciate their ability to influence the Experience and appreciate their ability to influence the present and the futurepresent and the future

Values and Attitudes


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