The Relevance of Curriculum Transformation Within the Social Sciences

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing outcry from various sectors in South Africa for the transformation of the curriculum taught in South Africa. This is because South Africa has been a democratic state for over 26 years, and as such, the proponents of curriculum transformation assert that much more should have been done thus far to transform the curriculum. Consequently, there is a need to engage various stakeholders in a concerted effort to collaborate in the curriculum transformation process, which is found to be complex and a demanding practice. Therefore, this chapter uses the social sciences, particularly social work education and practice, as a case study to unpack the need and relevance of curriculum transformation within the higher education sector because of its distinct focus on human relations and profound effect on every part of society. This chapter will provide insights into the relevance of curriculum transformation in the social sciences, which academics from various disciplines would find useful and engaging.