An analysis of economic and management science curriculum implementation in the North-West province

Abstract

This study investigated the implementation of economic and management science curriculum in the Senior Phase in the Moretele' district RSA. Thee main purpose of the study was to identify the challenges experienced by teachers in the process of implementing EMS as a new learning area in the general education training band (GET). The study further investigated the impact of human material resources upon the implementation process. Literature review was done on conceptual literature relating to issues on implementation of Economic and Management sciences as a new subject in the GET Band. It spelled out the human and material resources that are used in schools. Challenges the EMS teachers faced. when implementing the subject and the strategies to overcome them. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used as methods of investigation. Research instruments used included the questionnaire which was self-administered to the selected teachers for completion and interviews were conducted wit.h the head of departments (HoDs) of the selected schools. For the quantitative approach the sample was selected from eighty eighty (87) EMS teachers in the Senior Phase(Grade 7-9) from all five (5) clusters in Moretele Area Office (AO) and only fifty(50) teachers formed the sample. In the qualitative approach only four (4) head of Departments (HoDs) were purposively selected and interviewed in depth from selected Middle schools. The major findings show that most of the teachers neither adequately qualified, nor do schools have relevant resources to assist learning and teaching. There is little support in the form of in service training or workshops for teachers teaching EMS. The department of education does not support teachers in terms of resources in general. The recommendations resulting from this finding therefore are that the EMS teachers need to be retrained especially in terms of learning outcome number 3 which is mostly based on accounting. Adequate teaching and learning materials including textbooks should be provided to schools.