Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education Assessment Syllabus - Development Studies (Code 0586)

BOTSWANA GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SYLLABUS

1. INTRODUCTION

  • The Development Studies Assessment Syllabus assesses candidates completing a two-year Senior Secondary course.
  • Aims to demonstrate candidates' positive achievements across all ability levels.
  • The assessment encourages candidates to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and skills.
  • Grading scale: A* - G. Grade descriptions are provided in Section 7.
  • Relevant documents to accompany this syllabus include:
    • Senior Secondary Development Studies Teaching Syllabus
    • Past question papers and marking schemes

2. AIMS

Candidates following the syllabus will:
(a) Understand development theory and practice related to social, political, and economic contexts.
(b) Develop analytical skills to grasp the dynamics of social, economic, and political relations.
(c) Understand diverse governmental forms and organizations and their impact on development.
(d) Critically evaluate development strategies and experiences.
(e) Appreciate the interrelated nature of development at various levels: local, national, regional, and international.
(f) Grasp both the prospects and challenges for development in Botswana and other developing countries.
(g) Recognize the role of individuals, communities, organizations, and government as development agents.
(h) Utilize personal talents and resources to combat poverty, exploitation, and injustices.
(i) Understand emerging issues like HIV/AIDS, global warming, globalization, and their developmental impacts.
(j) Appreciate self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and active community participation.
(k) Understand Botswana’s four national principles.
(l) Interpret and apply Botswana's national principles.

  • Not all aims can be readily assessed in assessments objectives.

3. ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES

The syllabus outlines four main assessment objectives:

  1. Knowledge and Understanding
  2. Analysis and Evaluation
  3. Investigation
  4. Active Participation, Application, and Problem-Solving

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

Candidates should:
1.1 Recall, select, and present relevant factual information.
1.2 Demonstrate understanding of developmental terms, theories, and concepts.
1.3 Show knowledge of development strategies and their applications.
1.4 Demonstrate understanding of development issues in Botswana, Southern Africa, and globally.

  • Questions often start with terms like define, outline, calculate, etc.

3.2 Analysis and Evaluation

Candidates should:
2.1 Interpret relevant data in various forms (written, statistical, graphical, and pictorial).
2.2 Analyze and evaluate information to recognize patterns and draw conclusions.
2.3 Analyze and evaluate alternative development approaches.

  • Questions frequently start with words like compare, assess, and discuss.

3.3 Investigation

Candidates should:
3.1 Plan and execute a simple research exercise.
3.2 Use techniques to observe, record, and classify data.
3.3 Organize and present findings coherently.

  • Questions often use phrases like evaluate, discuss, examine.

3.4 Active Participation, Application, and Problem-Solving

Candidates should:
4.1 Apply practical skills in problem-solving.
4.2 Participate in activities related to development.

  • Questions may prompt candidates to suggest, advise, or comment.

4. SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT

Candidates will be assessed through two written papers and coursework:

4.1 Written Papers

  • Paper 1:
    • Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Marks: 40
    • Structure:
    • Section A: Short answer questions (5 questions, 4 marks each)
    • Section B: Data-based questions (2 questions, 10 marks each)
  • Paper 2:
    • Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Marks: 60
    • Structure:
    • Five structured questions; candidates answer any three (20 marks each)
  • Paper 3: Coursework
    • Marks: 50
    • Format: Written report by individual candidates

4.2 Weighting of Papers

  • Paper 1: 40%
  • Paper 2: 35%
  • Paper 3: 25%

5. CONTENT

The syllabus is divided into 8 modules:

  1. Measuring and Investigating Development
  2. Production, Consumption, and Investment
  3. Rural Development
  4. Industrialization and Urbanization
  5. Women in Development
  6. Population, Health, and Education
  7. Politics and Development
  8. Regional Co-operation, International Trade, and Foreign Aid
  • Each module consists of topics with general and specific objectives.

5.1 MODULE 1: MEASURING AND INVESTIGATING DEVELOPMENT

Topics and Objectives:
1.1 Development

  • 1.1.1 Explain development’s concept and practice within social, economic, and political contexts.
  • 1.1.1.1 Define development terms like First World, Third World, etc.
  • 1.1.1.2 Identify development indicators such as GNP, GDP, health, education, etc.
  • 1.1.1.3 Discuss the challenges in measuring political aspects of development.
  • 1.1.1.4 Analyze development theories: modernization, sustainable development, etc.
  • 1.2 Investigation Skills
  • 1.2.1 Conduct an investigation on developmental issues, including identifying problems and methods for data collection.

5.2 MODULE 2: PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT

1. Production

  • 2.1.1 Explain the concept and process of production.
  • 2.1.1.1 Discuss basic needs, wants, and opportunity costs related to production.
  • 2.1.1.2 Define the factors of production and their implications.
  • 2.1.1.3 Explain forms of capital and how to raise it.
  • 2. Enterprise
  • 2.2.1 Understand the role of enterprise in production.
  • 2.2.1.1 Describe types of enterprises and their roles in the economy.
  • 3. Consumption and Investment
  • 2.3.1 Understand investment trends in Botswana, including the relationship between consumption and production.

5.3 MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Rural Development

  • 3.1.1 Explain rural development and its historical impacts.
  • 3.1.1.1 Discuss traditional societal structures and their evolution since independence.
  • 3.1.1.2 Analyze rural development schemes and their effectiveness.

5.4 MODULE 4: INDUSTRIALIZATION AND URBANIZATION

1. Industrialization

  • 4.1.1 Discuss the stages and impacts of industrialization including technological advancements.
  • 2. Urbanization
  • 4.2.1 Explain urban growth dynamics and impacts.

5.5 MODULE 5: WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT

1. Women in Development

  • 5.1.1 Discuss the evolving role of women across societal structures and the impact of policies.

5.6 MODULE 6: POPULATION, HEALTH AND EDUCATION

1. Population

  • 6.1.1 Understand population dynamics and their development implications.
  • 2. Health
  • 6.2.1 Describe how health influences development.
  • 3. Education
  • 6.3.1 Discuss the role of education in addressing developmental challenges.

5.7 MODULE 7: POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Government and Development

  • 7.1.1 Discuss government forms and their influence on development.
  • 2. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • 7.2.1 Analyze NGO roles and impact on development in Botswana.

5.8 MODULE 8: REGIONAL CO-OPERATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND FOREIGN AID

1. Regional Co-operation

  • 8.1.1 Understand regional cooperation’s impact on development.
  • 2. International Trade
  • 8.2.1 Analyze international trade patterns and their challenges.
  • 3. Foreign Aid
  • 8.3.1 Explain the concept of foreign aid and its implications for development.

6. COURSEWORK

Introduction

  • Candidates undertake projects benefiting participants, the school, or the community, focusing on formulation, management, and evaluation.
  • Projects foster teamwork, self-reliance, and personal development.

Nature of the Project

  • Projects can be new or ongoing, focusing on community benefit. Individual reports (approx. 2500 words) are required from each candidate.
  • Areas suitable for projects: social, economic, health, education.

Project Development Steps:

  1. Identification: Define project based on observations and consultations.
  2. Planning: Identify tasks, information sources, and resources.
  3. Implementation: Detail all activities and their benefits.
  4. Evaluation: Assess project success through various techniques.
  5. Conclusion, Recommendations, Exit Strategy: Reflect on project outcomes and future recommendations.

7. GRADE DESCRIPTIONS

Grade A

Candidates will demonstrate:

  • Accuracy in recalling and presenting information.
  • Thorough understanding of development issues.
  • Ability to analyze and evaluate development strategies consistently.
  • Effective organization in presentation of findings.

Grade C

Candidates will demonstrate:

  • Sound understanding of development terms but with some difficulty.
  • Adequate presentation of findings and data analysis attempts.

Grade F

Candidates will demonstrate:

  • Limited understanding of development concepts.
  • Basic attempts at data interpretation and finding presentations.

8. APPENDICES

Appendix A: GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A PROJECT REPORT

Components include:

  1. Title page
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Acknowledgements
  4. Introduction outlining project rationale and aims
  5. Planning and feasibility study
  6. Implementation details, including group roles
  7. Evaluation of project success
  8. Conclusions, recommendations, exit strategies
  9. References and appendices for additional documentation.

Appendix B: COURSEWORK ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Criteria analyzed include project identification, research techniques, evidence of participation, analysis and evaluation of data, presentation quality, use of development terms, etc.