摘要：The research investigated how Social Studies is taught with regard to the use of instructional materials and how they impact student’s performance especially during the Botswana Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). The study contends that the manner in which students are taught in Social Studies eventually negatively impacts on the goal of teaching students to become vibrant and active citizens. The study was carried out in Lobatse South East Inspectoral Area, Lobatse, Botswana, which comprises of primary school teachers who have been trained to specialize in the teaching of one subject and in some instances there are no subject specialists. This qualitative research used interviews, participant-observation and a questionnaire to collect data. The results of the study reveal that there is absolute need for teachers to change their teaching approaches. There is also need for the Social Studies PSLE to be conducted both theoretically and practically so that students can have some hands-on experiences on matters which are directly related to the concept of citizens’ active engagement in the democratic process.
