ABSTRACT
Citizenship education is crucial for the continued existence of a society. The purposes of and approach towards citizenship education differ from country to country. Social studies is often a key vehicle for citizenship education, and it may be utilized for three primary goals: namely, socialization into the norms of society; acquisition of disciplinary concepts and processes and the promotion of critical or reflective thinking (Ross, 2006). In Singapore, Social studies is an important school subject used for citizenship education. This paper examines the development of Social studies over the years in post-independent Singapore and shows that the approach of Social studies had for many years been transmissionist, focused on socializing the young into the norms of Singapore society, creating a parochial national identity. The primary goal was the development of moral, law abiding and patriotic citizens. With the challenges of globalization, rapid technological advancements and changing demands of the economy, however, there is increasing recognition of the need to develop citizens with a sense of belonging to the nation but who are more informed, thinking and capable of social reformation. This, however, is still a fledgling goal, and more time and deliberate effort will be required to achieve this.
