The purpose of this study is to investigate how the knowledge structures in Grade 6 History textbooks have altered since 1994 and how learners in History may be inducted differently into the discipline of History. The transformation from a ‘content-heavy’ to a ‘skills-based’ History curriculum, and the teaching of History as a ‘mode of enquiry’ has resulted in an altered form, shape and character of History, as it exists in the learning area of the Social Sciences in the National Curriculum Statement. Bernstein’s concepts of curricula types and discourses as well as Bertram’s ‘historical gaze’ have been used to frame the study. Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy has been used to identify knowledge types and the cognitive demand of the textbooks. This study is located within the interpretive paradigm using the methodology of content analysis. It utilises the mixed-mode approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. The sampling of the four textbooks (data sources) was purposive due to their popularity, accessibility, publication and prestige. Similar content in the chapter on the “History of Medical Science” was analysed across all four textbooks. Whilst the expectation of the NCS is one of high skill and high knowledge, the findings show that there seems to be a lack of congruence between curriculum requirements and textbook representations. An analysis of the two new textbooks indicate that both content of History (substantive knowledge) and historical procedures (procedural knowledge) are in danger as everyday knowledge is prioritised in its integration with substantive History knowledge in Grade 6 History textbooks. The content analysis also reveals an undeveloped sense of chronology; space and time which has implications for History learners and their appropriate induction into the discipline of History. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

The aim of this study was to find out whether the school history textbooks used in Transkei Junior and Senior secondary schools were adequate in helping pupils meet the demands of their course. The results of the study would be used as argument for or against the assumption that the type of textbooks used in Transkei schools, through their inadequacy in equipping the pupils with the necessary skills for "doing" history, do contribute to the high failure rate in history, especially that they are in most schools, the only recourse for both the teacher and the pupil. In particular the study intended to see what strategies the history textbooks used to aid concept understanding which is crucial to the understanding of history. Twenty three criteria, fourteen objective and nine subjective were used to assess the books for readability and for strategies which might aid concept understanding. Eight books were assessed: four Std 5 and four Std 8 books. The results showed that only three of the eight books catered for the development of skills of learning history and were suited to the level of the pupiils for whom they were intended . History textbooks therefore need to be improved so as to foster the skills of learning history. Their inadequacy could be a contributory factor to the high rate of failure. In-service and pre-service training in methods of textbook analysis can assist in textbook selection and for changes in methods of teaching to supplement shortcomings in books which are commonly used

This study is a situational analysis of a school located at Nonkcampa village, just ten kilometres from King William’s Town, west of the national road between Peddie and King William’s Town. Toise Senior Secondary School is in the former Ciskei region. The Bulembu / Bisho airport is just next to our school. My focus on Toise Senior Secondary School, provides me as the principal of the school with a golden opportunity to find out more about the school. As a relative newcomer to the school this study also enables me to look at the school community, from this particular focal point. As this is a situational analysis, my focus will be on the history, the biophysical and socio-political aspects that influenced the development of the school to the present. In this way I will be able to analyse the school’s readiness to implement the new Out-Comes-Based Education (OBE) Curriculum soon to be implemented at secondary school level.