Understanding social studies: political socialisation at the secondary three level

• Main Author: Tan, Yuan Ting
• Other Authors: Dina Marie Binwag Delias
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70011
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As part of National Education (NE), Social Studies is the main vessel of citizenship education where the government attempts to develop its ideal citizen. Social Studies has sought to develop numerous cohorts of students into responsible and informed citizens of Singapore. Its textbook, which acts as the main point of reference during the delivery of Social Studies, partakes in transmitting knowledge and inculcating values in students integral to being a Singaporean . This paper analyses the content of the Social Studies textbook to determine that it socialises students into a “government-lead, citizen-led” relationship where the ideal citizen is a self-reliant individual who is politically unempowered and passive, leaving the government’s intended active citzenship much to be desired.