Social Studies in Primary Education: Comparing the Slovak and Czech Republics

Abstract

This article focuses on Slovak primary school (ISCED1) subjects that represent social and human knowledge and contrasts the Slovak situation with the Czech one. First, it looks briefly at the historical context that gave rise to and continues to shape these subjects. It then considers their content and attempts to explain why these subjects have ceased to evolve. It also shows that, despite the continual re-discovery of teaching methods and the acute need for them when teaching pupils of this age, there has been little research in this area. It concludes by stating that the lack of education research and discussion makes it difficult to influence public policymaking and curricular reform. Keywords: Slovak primary social studies, curriculum of social studies, didactics, teaching methods of social studies