Exploring Sustainable Development Goals and Moral Values in the Oxford Social Studies Textbooks for Primary Classes

Abstract

Sustainable development and moral values have become an essential need of our society. We cannot expect our society to exist in the long run without having sufficient knowledge about and moral values. This research study aimed to determine the extent to which Pakistan's social studies textbooks from grade 1 to 5 contained elements regarding sustainable development and moral values. A qualitative research design was preferred and adopted for this research. The data was gathered through content analysis of primary grade textbooks of social studies written by Nicholas Horsburgh and published by Oxford 2004. A checklist was developed depicting elements and themes of sustainable development and moral values. The checklists were approved by experts of the Education Department at Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore. The themes and elements were marked accordingly and aided the researchers to explore the finding regarding the contents of primary Oxford social studies textbooks. Major findings revealed that the textbooks of social studies have a sufficient amount of SD goals i.e. Peace and Justice, Highlighting Importance of Diversity, Integrity, Good Health and Well Being, and much more. As far as the moral values are concerned a few chapters contained a surplus number of moral values in them. In the light of the findings of this study it is recommended that the content of social studies textbooks needs to be updated. Similar topics should not be repeated in the textbooks. Awareness about gender equality and environmental issues must be stressed in social studies textbooks.