The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has described the attempt to scrap the study of Social studies in schools as a move that will spell doom for the country.

Josephine Nkrumah speaking at the Social Studies National Conference at the University of Education, Winneba, said the study of Social Studies was the heartbeat of humanity.

She stated that taking it out of the educational curriculum would further break down the country.

The NCCE Chair said studying the subject has become very critical in the day-to-day activities of the students, and by extension, therefore, scrapping it would be a big blow to the educational sector.

“Social Studies is the heartbeat of humanity. You cannot take that away. No matter what you do, you will live, work, co-exist, worship, fight, build on peace together as a people. So there is no reason why Social studies should be scrapped in any shape or form on this earth.”

According to her, it allows people to examine themselves and improve and enhance life and living on this earth constantly.

“You see robots serving in restaurants, delivering food to the homes of people, collecting garbage and doing other things humans are supposed to do. All these should tell us a lot. We need to have an innovative way of maintaining the physical and social connections,” she advised.

The NCCE chair appealed to the GES and the Ministry of Education to relook the policy.

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Lucy Effah Attom, called on government to consider making social studies an elective subject just as it is done in Mathematics, Science and English.

Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Prof Andy Ofori Birikorang asked lecturers who teach at the graduate school level to consider their students as their peers as it’s a social process with a future consequential effect.

The Conference organised by the National Social Studies Association in collaboration with the Department of Social Studies Education, University of Education, Winneba, called on school authorities to desist from allowing untrained teachers to handle the social studies subject in the schools.

The Conference was organized under the theme: ‘Development of 21st Century Skills and Competencies: The Role of Social Studies.’