History and Geography

SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

“GEOGRAPHY HAS MADE US NEIGHBOURS, HISTORY FRIENDS.”

The Social Sciences comprise academic disciplines concerned with the study of the social life of human groups and individuals including History, Geography and Social Studies. The Social Science department wants to acquaint students with many of the causes and effects that affect social and cultural behaviors.

MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT

Yogesh Juggessur (Head of Department)

Poorooshottum Behary

Manorama Ramsurrun

Hema Seesurn

“THE TRUE SCIENCE OF STUDY OF MAN, IS MAN HIMSELF.”Pierre Charron

History is the continuous, systematic narrative and research of past events as relating to the human species; as well as the study of all events in time, in relation to humanity. History can be seen as the sum total of many things taken together and the spectrum of events occurring in action following in order leading from the past to the present and into the future.

The overall aim of teaching history is to help students understand themselves, their country and the wider human society. Without such understanding they would not be able to benefit from the experience of human activity in the past, linking it, as appropriate, with the present, in order to build a better world. History has been introduced at the primary level itself where students get acquainted with some basic knowledge of the subject. This knowledge is further deepened and critically analyzed at the secondary level where students get a wider perspective of the subject.

Besides providing students with knowledge of History of Mauritius, the aims of the syllabus are to:

- Stimulate interest in and enthusiasm for the study of the past

- Promote the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of human activity in the past

- Help students towards an understanding of the development over time of social and cultural values

- Promote the understanding of basic historical concepts, such as cause and consequence

- Encourage the development of literacy and essential study skills

- Provide a sound basis for further study

The objectives are to enhance the students’ proficiency in the following skills:

- The recall of relevant factual knowledge

- The ability to evaluate and interpret source material as historical evidence

- The ability to express awareness of change and continuity in the past

GEOGRAPHY

“While you are divided from us by geographical lines, which are imaginary, and by a language which is not the same, you have not come to an alien people or land. In the realm of the heart, in the domain of the mind, there are no geographical lines dividing the nations.” Anna Howard Shaw

Geography teaches an understanding of places and environments. Through their work in geography, children learn about their local area and compare their life in this area with children in other regions and the rest of the world. They learn how to draw and interpret maps and they develop the skills of research, investigation, analysis and problem solving. Through their growing knowledge and understanding of human geography, children gain an appreciation of life in other cultures. Geography teaching also motivates children to find out about the physical world and enables them to recognise the importance of sustainable development for the future of mankind.

The aims of geography are:

- To enable children to gain knowledge and understanding of places in the world;

- To increase children's knowledge of other cultures and, in so doing, teach a respect and understanding of what it is to be appositive citizen in a multi-cultural country:

- To allow children to learn graphic skills, including how to draw and interpret maps:

- To enable children to know and understand environmental problems at a local, regional and global level:

- To encourage in children a commitment to sustainable development and an appreciation of what 'global citizenship' means;

- To develop a variety of other skills including those of enquiry, problem solving, ICT, investigation and how to present their findings and conclusions in the most appropriate way.