The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has responded to claims that it has axed Social Studies subject at the basic level in the new curriculum which will be rolled out this September. 

The Council says the subject has never been part of the Kindergarten (KG) and primary school curriculum to begin with. 

In a statement Wednesday signed by Prince Armah, the NaCCA Executive Secretary, he explained that the pre-tertiary curriculum review process which began in June 2017 is being rolled out in two phases.

“The first phase focuses on Kindergarten (KG) to Primary curriculum while the second phase focuses on the Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) curriculum,” he said. 

His comment follows threats by the National Social Studies Association (NaSSA), which comprises Social Studies teachers across the country to embark on a series of actions to force government to restore the subject.

The worried members of the Association are questioning the level of stakeholder engagement done before the decision was taken to axe the subject.

They fear Social Studies teachers currently employed by the Ghana Education Services (GES) and those studying the subject at the universities, will be redundant. 

But the NaCCA Executive Secretary says the fears are without merit as the Council has recently completed the first phase of its pre-tertiary curriculum review process.

This has been handed over to the Ghana Education Service for implementation beginning September 2019. 

Dr Armah said a key goal of the curriculum review is to ensure “learners have understanding of Ghana’s history, culture and traditions and of their rights and responsibilities as citizens” and this has been embedded throughout the reviewed curriculum.

According to him, “the second phase, comprising JHS and SHS curriculum, will begin in August with a Stakeholder Engagement chaired by the Minister of Education from August 2 to 4.”

He said the consultation process will engage key experts who will be involved in drafting the framework for this phase of the curriculum review process.

“NaCCA would like to assure the general public that, as part of its inclusive curriculum development process, all relevant stakeholders will be extensively engaged during the next phase of the curriculum review process,” Dr Armah said.