Effects of Curriculum changes on Teaching and Learning of Economic and Management Sciences

Abstract

Economics and Management Sciences was introduced into the South African curriculum in 2005. The programme was previously offered in the intermediate phase, however, in the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement, it is only offered in the senior phase. Many studies related to curriculum changes have been conducted on commercial subjects, but most have focused on only one subject, namely, Accounting, Business Studies or Economics. No study has been found that covers all three of them, especially in the Limpopo Province. The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of this curriculum change on EMS at the Man’ombe Circuit, Limpopo Province. This study utilized a multi-case study, within the qualitative approach using thematic analyses. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 participants comprising the curriculum advisor of the EMS, circuit manager, principals, and teachers. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, guided by an interview guide. Qualitative data were transcribed using Microsoft words and analysed using thematic analysis.   The findings revealed the effects of the curriculum changes as - poor performance, challenges in teaching and learning of EMS and loss of interest in the subject, and challenges related to learning new terminologies. The study unravelled factors in relation to curriculum changes that affect the learning and teaching of economic and management sciences in the senior phase, and these have the potential to influence policy changes.