Promoting citizenship education through social studies: perspectives of students and tutors of colleges of education in Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the views of social studies tutors and students of selected Colleges of Education on how the teaching and learning of social studies could promote Citizenship Education. A sample of 20 tutors and 1000 final-year students were selected using census method from six Colleges of Education in the Eastern Region. Among the findings were: 1. Majority of the tutors and students understand citizenship as the exercise of rights and responsibilities, making informed decisions and taking thoughtful and responsible actions. 2. Majority of the tutors and students understand Citizenship Education as learning to be a good citizen now and having opportunities to exercise that citizenship as well as learning to be an effective citizen in future. 3. Majority of the tutors and students understand Social Studies as an integration of human relations for the purpose of Citizenship Education. 4. Most of the tutors and students think Social Studies can help to develop good citizens, by teaching and learning the subject through the inquiry approach and placing more emphasis on regions and culture. On the basis of the findings these recommendations were made. The Social Studies programme should be constantly reviewed to ensure that it is abreast of current social issues so that its products can operate to suit the trends of the day. Tutors should teach the subject to suit its integrated nature and this calls for tutors upgrading themselves, attending conferences, seminars and workshops to sharpen their knowledge base and pedagogical skills. The subject should be taught by using the inquiry approach.