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THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

EXAMINATION SYLLABUS FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

SOCIAL STUDIES

 

 

1.  PREAMBLE

 

 Social Studies is a study of the contemporary problems of the society. The subject  prepares the individual to into society by equipping him/her with knowledge about the  culture or ways of life of their society, its problems, its values and its hopes for the  future. The subject is multi-disciplinary and takes its source from many subjects, e. g.  Geography, History, Sociology, Psychology, Economics and Civic Education.  Essential elements of the knowledge and principles from these disciplines are  integrated into a subject that stands on its own.

 

 As a subject social studies helps students to understand their society better; helps  them to investigate how their society functions and hence assists them to develop  that  critical and at the same time developmental kind of mind that transforms societies.  Our society has been a slow moving one. It is hoped that the course will enable  students understand the social, cultural, environmental, political and economic issues  in the Ghanaian society better. This will enable them to examine the society’s  institutions and ways of life with critical and constructive mind. Through this, the  country will surely be on the  path to better and faster growth and development.

 

2.  EXAMINATION OBJECTIVES

 

 The examination syllabus is aimed at testing candidates’

 

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  1. understanding of the components of positive attitudes and values towards individual and societal issues

     

  2. knowledge of the components of society and their role

     

  3. understanding of the democratic values and how they foster national unity

     

  4. understanding of the importance of the institution of marriage and family and their importance to society

     

  5. understanding of positive self-concept for the development of the individual, good inter-personal relationships and social harmony
  6. awareness of socializing agencies and their roles in forging national unity

     

  7. understanding of physical and social environment and the need to preserve them

     

  8. awareness of socio-economic problems in Ghana and how to solve them for sustainable development

     

  9. ability to cope with the problems of social change.

 

3.  SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

 

There will be two papers, Papers 1 and 2 both of which must be taken.

 


PAPER 1: Will consist of fifty multiple-choice objective questions all of which must be

answered within 50 minutes for 50 marks.

 


PAPER 2: Will consist of three sections, A, B and C covering the following areas of the

syllabus:

  • Section A: The Environment
  • Section B: Governance, Politics and Stability
  • Section C: Social and Economic Development.

 

Section A shall contain four questions. Sections B and C shall contain three

questions each. Candidates will be required to answer five questions in all

choosing at least, one question but not more than two questions from each

section.

 

Each question will carry 20 marks and the paper will last 3 hours.

 

 

4.  DETAILED SYLLABUS

 

SECTION A: THE ENVIRONMENT

 

  1.  Self-Identify

 

1.1  Explanation of self‘ and capabilities

1.2  False identity and its implications

1.3  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory – its Usefulness to the individual

1.4  Developing one’s capabilities

1.5  Self-confidence: its meaning and development

 

 

 

 

 

2.0  Adolescent Reproductive Health

 

2.1  Explanation of terms adolescent,
reproductive health
and reproductive right 2.2  Characteristics of adolescence

2.3  Irresponsible adolescent behaviour and its implications

2.4  Safety measures for adolescent health

2.5  Fostering good gender relations

2.6  Chastity: meaning and benefits.

 

3.0  Our Culture and National Identity

 

 3.1  Explain the concept national identity.

 3.2  Identification of socio-cultural practices in Ghana  

 3.3  Explain how Socio-cultural practices in Ghana promote or inhibit development and why some should be changed

 

 3.4  The need for institutionalizing some socio-cultural practices

 3.5  Evaluate the importance of national and traditional symbols in fostering  national allegiance.

 3.6  Identify those elements of Ghanaian culture that bind us together

 3.7   Identify some Ghanaian values and traits

 

4.0  The Institution of Marriage

 

 4.1  Explanation of courtship and marriage

 4.2  Purpose of marriage

 4.3  Preparation towards marriage

 4.4  Types of marriage in Ghana – process and residence

 4.5  Challenges in marriage

 4.6  Causes and effects of broken in marriages

 4.7  Ways for sustaining marriages.

 

5.0  Individual obligations in the family

 

 5.1  Explanation of family and types

 5.2  Functions and importance of the nuclear and extended families

 5.3  The roles of individual members of the family

 5.4  Systems of inheritance

 5.5  Importance of family as an institution

 5.6  Implications of abandoning the family

 

6.0  Responsible Parenting

 

 6.1  Differences between parenthood and parenting

 6.2  Responsibilities of parents

 6.3  Consequences of irresponsible parenting

 6.4  Preventing and managing parent- child conflict

 6.5  Ways by which children cause their parents to be irresponsible.

 

7.0  Socialization and Our Social Environment

 

 7.1  Explanation of socialization agencies of socialization and agents of socialization

 

 7.2  The roles of agents and agencies of socialization

 7.3  Deviant behaviour and its implications on the society

 7.4  Challenges agent/agencies face in the socialization process

 7.5  Factors that promote better interpersonal relationship in groups and individuals in Ghana

 

8.0.  Our Physical Environment and Environmental challenges

 8.1  Explanation of the terms physical environment and environmental Challenge

 8.2  How human activities in Ghana are influenced by the physical environment

 8.3  The impact of human activities on the physical environment- positive and negative and their effects on man

 

 8.4  Measures for protecting the environment

 

  1.  Education and Social Change

 

 9.1  Explanation of education, its forms and purposes.

 9.2  Explanation of social change.

 9.3  The impact of education on national development.

 9.4  The role of education in social change in Ghana.

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION B: GOVERNANCE, POLITICS AND STABILITY

 

10.0  National Independence and Self Reliance

 

 10.1  Explanation of political independence and self-reliance

 10.2  Challenges/responsibilities of political independence

 10.3  Reasons why Ghanaians misconstrued implications of independence.  

 10.4  How to overcome the challenges of political independence in Ghana

 10.5  How to apply the concept of independence and self-reliance to one’s life.

 

  1. Peace Building and Conflict Resolution

 

 11.1  Explanation of the concepts peace building and conflict resolution

 11.2  Source of conflicts and their effects

 11.3  Identify the effects of conflict on the society

 11.4  Conditions for peace building

 11.5  Processes of peace building

 

  1. Leadership and Followership

 

 12.1  Meaning of leadership and followership

 12.2  Qualities of a leader and a follower

 12.3  Kind of leaders

 12.4  Leadership styles

 12.5  The role of a leader and follower in nation building

 

13.0  Our Constitution, Democracy and Nation Building

 

 13.1  Explanation of constitution, democracy and nation building

 13.1  Features of democracy

 13.3  Importance of constitution in nation building

 13.4  The role of democracy in nation building

 13.5  Reasons why unity and development are more sustainable under democratic government

 

 13.6  How to prevent autocratic rule

 

 

 

 

 

14.0  Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual

 14.1  Explanation of rights and responsibilities

 14.2  Types of rights and responsibilities

 14.3  Possible conflicts in the exercise of rights and responsibilities

 14.4  Reasons for curtailment of rights

 14.5  The need for citizens to perform their responsibilities

 

15.0  Ghana and the International Community

 

 15.1  Explanation of globalization and international community

 15.2  Forms of co-operation Ghana has with other nations and bodies

– UNO, AU, ECOWAS, Commonwealth

 15.3  Origin and objectives of New Partnership or Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

 15.4  Benefits of NEPAD to Ghana

 

SECTION C: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

16.0  The Youth and National Development

 

 16.1  Meaning of youth

 

 16.2  Challenges facing the youth in their efforts to contribute to national development

 

 16.3  Avenues for youth training in Ghana

 16.4  Avenues by which the youth can get employment

 16.5  Benefits of financial security to the individual and the nation

 16.6  Planning sustainable financial security for the future

 16.7  Explanation of the work of some financial institutions in the country

 16.8  The role of the youth in national development

17.0  Science and Technology

 17.1  Differences between science and technology

 17.2  The role of science and technology in national development

 17.3  Measures for promoting science and technology in Ghana

 17.4  How science and technology is used in the development and production in the world.

 

 17.5  Ways by which Ghana could promote development through increase application of science and technology

 

18.0  Resource development and Utilization in Ghana

 

 18.1  Explanation of Resource,
Development and Utilization

 18.2  Types of resources and the relationship among them in production

  1. Measures for developing human resources

 18.4  How human resources and other resources contribute to national development

 

19.0  The role of the Individual in Community Development

 

 19.1  Explanation of community and community development

 19.2  Identification of levels of community

 19.3  Factors involved in community decision making

 19.4  The need for vision, initiative and drive in community development

 19.5  Explain what community development involves

 19.6  Ways by which individuals can contribute to community development

 

20.0  Promoting National SocioEconomic Development

 

 20.1  Explanation of the concept Development

 20.2  Identification of components of nation socio-economic life

 20.3  Characteristics of a buoyant economy

 20.4  Sources of development problems in Ghana

 20.5  Measures Ghana has taken to improve development and standard of living in the country.

 

 20.6  Ways of improving the standard of living in Ghana

 

  1. Sustainable Development

 

 21.1  Explanation of sustainable
development and maintenance culture

 21.2  Factors hindering sustainability of growth and development in Ghana

 21.3  Measures to sustain growth and development

 21.4  Measures to improve quality human resources and prevent their loss

 21.5  Ways of ensuring sustainability in a person’s life

 21.6  Explain how to avoid incurring unmanageable debts

 21.7  How to avoid falling victim to financial fraudsters

 

22.0  Population growth and Development

 22.1  The structure of Ghana’s population and social and economic implication

 22.2  Social and Economic implication of Ghana’s population structure

 22.3  Measures for breaking the vicious cycle of Ghana’s rapid population growth

 22.4  Efforts made towards implementation of Ghana’s 1994 population policy

 22.5  Why it is difficult for Ghana to achieve the 4th and 5th millennium  development goals

 

 22.6  Give reasons for a person’s preference for an ideal family size.

 

 

  1. The World of Work and Entrepreneurship

 

 23.1  Explanation of work, productivity and entrepreneurship

 23.2  Types of enterprises in Ghana

 23.3  Qualities of an entrepreneur

 23.4  Basic requirements for starting a business enterprise and sustaining it

 23.5  Contribution of local enterprises to economic development

 23.6  Negative attitudes to work and their effect on productivity

 23.7  Positive work attitudes that employers expect of workers


 




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