CSEC Social Studies Syllabus Notes

CSEC Social Studies Syllabus Overview

Introduction

  • Document Code: CXC 14/G/SYLL 08
  • Effective For Examinations: May/June 2010
  • Publisher: Caribbean Examinations Council
  • Publication Year: 2010
  • Contact Information: Mail and email details for correspondence.

Contents

  • Rationale
  • Aims
  • General Objectives
  • Criteria for Content Selection
  • Skills and Attitudes to be Developed
  • Organisation of the Syllabus
  • Format of the Examination
  • Certification
  • Regulations for Resit, Private Candidates, and January Sitting
  • Sections A, B and C
  • Guidelines for Teachers
  • Assessment
  • Appendix - Reading List

Rationale

  • The syllabus is designed to promote knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective social participation.
  • Objectives include fostering awareness, values, and understanding of the interconnectedness of personal, familial, and societal dynamics.
  • Emphasis on a smooth transition from secondary to tertiary education.
  • Aligns with the Ideal Caribbean Person attributes as per CARICOM.
  • Highlights the importance of citizens’ understanding roles within families, communities, and broader society for sustainable development and social well-being.

Aims

  1. To develop appreciation of self as an active societal participant.
  2. To encourage respect for diverse opinions and cultural practices.
  3. To cultivate respect and appreciation for cultural heritage and environmental sustainability.
  4. To meet changes in economic, social, and technological circumstances.

General Objectives

Upon completion of this syllabus, students should be able to:

  1. Understand social identity and relationships.
  2. Critically evaluate societal attitudes, norms, and values.
  3. Employ coherent decision-making processes.
  4. Develop skills for participation and social action.
  5. Appreciate human and natural diversity relevant to sustainable development.
  6. Identify global issues affecting local life and regional development.

Criteria for Content Selection

  1. Addresses human experiences.
  2. Relevant to youth interests.
  3. Prepares citizens for social action.
  4. Explains unifying concepts related to self, family, and community dynamics.

Unifying Concepts

  1. Identity - Exploring personal identity and belonging.
  2. Freedom/Choice - The rights to make personal and national choices.
  3. Conflict - Recognizing inherent conflicts in freedom of choice.
  4. Development/Change - Understanding the outcomes of choices on various levels.
  5. Interaction - The effects of relationships across social structures.
  6. Cooperation - Working together for mutual development.
  7. Justice - Promoting fairness in social interactions.
  8. Integration - Aligning policies and practices towards common goals.

Skills and Attitudes Development

  • Enquiry and Communication Skills: Identifying problems, gathering information, and effectively presenting findings.
  • Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Skills: Evaluating information, recognizing assumptions, and making justified decisions.
  • Affective Learning: Developing attitudes of cooperation, tolerance, humility, and respect for diversity.

Organisation of the Syllabus

  • Section A: Individual, Family, and Society
  • Section B: Sustainable Development and Use of Resources
      - Development and Use of Resources
      - Regional Integration
  • Section C: Options
      - Communication
      - Consumer Affairs
      - Tourism

Examination Format

  • Paper 01: 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 multiple-choice questions.
  • Paper 02: 2 hours 30 minutes, required responses from three sections.
  • Paper 03: School-Based Assessment and alternate for private candidates.

Certification

  • Candidates receive an overall grade on a six-point scale along with letter grades for profile dimensions: Knowledge and Comprehension, Application, Evaluation, and Problem-Solving.

Regulations for Specific Candidates

  1. Resit Candidates: Regulations on school-based assessment requirements and examination category details.
  2. Private Candidates: Entry processes and examination obligations outlined.
  3. January Sitting: Special regulations for candidates sitting for the exam in January.

Section A: Individual, Family, and Society

General Objectives
  1. Understand social identity and community relationships.
  2. Critically analyze societal attitudes and values.
  3. Apply decision-making skills in social contexts.
  4. Engage in social action.
Specific Topics
  1. Family Concepts: e.g., kinship, marital types, family functions.
  2. Family Types and Roles: Roles of family members, changes in gender roles, causes of shifting dynamics.
  3. Legal Aspects: Laws impacting family rights and responsibilities.
  4. Cultural Diversity: Addressing cultural heritage and identity in the Caribbean.

Section B: Sustainable Development and Use of Resources

Specific Objectives
  1. Utilize key terms related to human and physical resources.
  2. Analyze population structure and characteristics.
  3. Discuss factors influencing migration and population change.
  4. Develop understanding of sustainable resource management and regional cooperation.

Section C: Options (Detailed Objectives)

Communication
  • Define communication concepts, identify its influence on society, address media moral issues, outline regulations governing media.
Consumer Affairs
  • Assess consumer rights and responsibilities, examine factors affecting consumer behavior, examine modern technology's impact on transactions.
Tourism
  • Evaluate tourism's contribution to economic development, explore environmental impacts, assess regulatory policies, and promote regional integration through tourism.

Guidelines for Teachers and SBA

  • Emphasis on the importance and structure of the School-Based Assessment.
  • Specific requirements noted for project work, including data collection and reporting expectations.

Reading List

  • A curated list of educational resources and textbooks relevant to the syllabus for teachers and students.