PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION AT TERTIARY LEVEL AND SUGGESTIONS FOR SOLUTIONS: TEACHER CANDIDATES’ PERSPECTIVES

This study evaluates the problems and constraints confronting the social studies education at tertiary level from the perspectives of university students via qualitative research methods and procedures. A purposeful sampling procedure was used to identify and select participants for the study, and a semi-structured interview protocol was employed to gather research data. Participants’ responses were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. As a result of the analysis of the interview transcripts through the method of inductive qualitative data analysis, problems in social studies education have been classified as (1) academics and students, (2) learning environment, instructional material and access to resources, (3) educational system and policy, and (4) social studies curriculum planning, development and implementation. How the problems facing social studies education can be handled and how the field can be improved are discussed on the basis of research findings.