Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
17.2
Placement of Geography in the School Curriculum
Geography is treated differently among school levels in Singapore, Hong Kong, South
Korea, and Japan (Table
17.1
). In the elementary school curriculum, geography
does not exist as a separate subject. Instead, geographic contents are taught through
integrated subjects that are compulsory, for example, in General Studies in Hong
Kong or Social Studies in Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. Such integrated
subjects in elementary school are based on the expanding environments approach,
so geographic content is very prominent within the subjects.
Nevertheless, a recent trend is for integrated subjects to replace geography,
which has traditionally been a separate subject in junior high school in many
countries. In senior high school, Geography remains a separate subject, but an
elective one.
At junior high schools in Singapore, geography is a compulsory subject for the
Special, Express and Normal (academic) Courses, but Social Studies replaces it in
the Normal (technical) Course. In senior high school, Combined Humanities is a
compulsory subject, whereas geography is elective for the Special, Express and
Normal courses. In Hong Kong, geography is a separate subject in junior and senior
high school, but an elective subject within the Key Learning Area of Personal,
Social and Humanities Education (PSHE). As with Social Studies, life and society,
and integrated humanities, some integrated subjects in the PSHE include geographi-
cal contents.
In South Korea, geography is one component of “Intelligent Life” in fi rst and
second grades and of Social Studies from third through tenth grades. In eleventh
through twelfth grades, it is taught through two separate subjects, Korean Geography
and World Geography. Like South Korea, Japan adopts Life Environmental Studies
in fi rst and second grades and Social Studies from third through ninth grades.
In Social Studies, geography is one component in elementary school, but a separate
subject in junior high school. In senior high school, World History is a compulsory
subject; Geography and Japanese History are elective subjects in Geography and
History.
Table 17.1
Placement of Geography in the School Curriculum
Singapore
Hong Kong
South Korea
Japan
Elementary
School
Integrated
Integrated
Integrated
Integrated
Compulsory
Compulsory
Compulsory
Compulsory
Junior High
School
Integrated/Separate
Integrated/Separate
Integrated
Separate
Compulsory
Elective
Compulsory
Compulsory
Senior High
School
Integrated/Separate
Integrated/Separate
Integrated/Separate
Separate
Compulsory/Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
