ABSTRACT
In response to social changes, globalization trends, and the future demand for talent, Taiwan’s 12-Year Basic Education has been launched and the revision of the curriculum guidelines in various domains/subjects was gradually completed. The resulting new curriculum has come into effect for first graders of elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school as of the school year 2019. This article addresses the new social studies curriculum and is divided into four parts: First, it describes the political, social, economic, and educational contexts of developing the new social studies curriculum. Second, it introduces the concepts and objectives, the curriculum framework, and main characteristics of the new social studies curriculum. Third, it explains the status and significance of social studies from the combination of subjects and time allocation in the social studies domain at each level of schooling in 12-Year Basic Education. Finally, it analyzes the challenges and opportunities for change in the implementation of the new social studies curriculum guidelines.
Keywords 12-Year Basic Education, core competency, social studies
