Exploring citizenship education: cultural study curriculum in Botswana

Abstract

The research project presented here examined the concept of citizenship education in the context of cultural studies in Botswana’s lower primary level which is from standard one to four. Cultural studies as a discipline of study has just been introduced in Botswana primary schools. Issues on equality and social justice are becoming crucial in Botswana’s growing democracy and as such the role of schools in promoting cultural diversity cannot be overemphasized. As such, this study also assessed the degree to which the cultural study curriculum advances the aspirations of citizenship education. The findings of the study revealed that the pedagogical practices in cultural studies were major barriers to the productive teaching of multiculturalism in cultural studies. Additionally, teachers also seem to have inadequate understanding of the concepts of multiculturalism and citizenship education. The study recommends that cultural studies should be introduced to the University of Botswana and teacher training colleges.