From research findings to enhanced practice:
NSC Consumer Studies
Adri Du Toit
(Team leader: Umalusi Consumer Studies Investigation)
Lecturer: North-West University
What is Consumer Studies?
Timeline of the development of
Consumer Studies
1904: First "Home Economics" report filed in SA
1923: Domestic Science and Sewing offered as
part of Senior Certificate
1967: Home Economics introduced in Education
Gazette (Junior Secondary course)
1973: Home Economics introduced as Senior
Secondary course (HG & SG)
2004: Consumer Studies introduced in FET
Phase as part of Curriculum 2005
NCS "New NCS" & CAPS
Development of Consumer Studies
Subject is dynamic – changed according to
needs of society
Home Economics
focussed on needs of family, and
producing products for the family.
Consumer Studies
focus on developing informed consumers, and
entrepreneurial learning and skills, and
developing small-scale products with
entrepreneurial value.
Consumer Studies as subject offered
in the National Senior Certificate
Services Subject (with Hospitality Studies and Tourism)
Offered only in FET Phase (Grades 10-12)
No clear preparatory subject
Senior Phase Technology?
Learners have no prior exposure to the subject
Learner numbers in subject increasing
The Consumer Studies Curriculum
Content breadth, specification and focus
NCS: 5 areas (LO's) CAPS: 7 topics (content)
The Consumer The Consumer
Food and Nutrition Food And Nutrition
Clothing and Textiles Design Elements and Principles
Housing and Furnishings Fibres and Fabrics
Production and Entrepreneurship Clothing
Housing and interior
Entrepreneurship
• Some omissions from NCS to CAPS
• Some re-assignment of content and changes in terminology in CAPS
• Most prevalent changes: content:
• expanded in the CAPS for better alignment with the central concept of the
consumer, and
• to better reflect current national and global issues
Content focus and weighting
NCS Learning Outcomes CAPS Central topics
Management of the 12% The consumer 26.6%*
consumer role Food and nutrition 24.4%*
Knowledgeable 40%
Design elements and 4.4%*
consumer choices
principles
Responsible use of 18%
Fibres and fabrics 8%*
resources
Clothing 6.6%*
Production and 30%
marketing of food, Housing and interior 10%*
clothing and soft (25% practical + Entrepreneurship 20%*
furnishing products 5% theory of
Practical options, including 37.5%**
practical)
theory of practical and actual
practical tasks
+ 70:30
Focus
• The consumer * Percentage: the number of weeks out of total teaching time for all three grades in the FET Phase.
**1.5 hours of the total four hours per week is used for practical and theory of practical work.
• Food & nutrition
• Entrepreneurship
Pedagogy
What is
pedagogy?
• not mere methodology
• the method and
practice/activities of teaching
• principles, practice, or
profession of teaching
Pedagogy
Specification of general pedagogic approach
low for both NCS & CAPS
Specification of subject-specific pedagogic
approach low for both NCS & CAPS
The lack of pedagogical guidance is a source
of concern
Assessment in the
Consumer Studies Curriculum
Assessment guidance
NCS: (moderate to low level of guidance)
Broad, complex and generic assessment
guidance
Subject Assessment Guidelines: more details
CAPS: (high level of guidance)
Clear general assessment guidance
Clear, simple, subject-specific assessment
guidance
The place of the PAT in Consumer
Studies
The PAT is intended to:
ensure that learners apply knowledge and
demonstrate the skills
apply entrepreneurial knowledge and skills
apply the knowledge, processes, techniques
and skills
compile a production and marketing plan
evaluate suggested enterprise for sustainability
and profitability
Practical assessment in
Consumer Studies
5 different practical options:
•
Food production Clothing production Soft furnishing production
Quilting and patchwork by hand Knitting and crocheting
Not yet aligned and highly comparable:
Differences in skills level demanded (e.g. Clothing higher
than Food)
Project not core for planning of product (loss of
entrepreneurship development opportunity)
Allocation of marks and time differs
Data-based findings
7%
10%
18%
42%
1=Easy
21%
48% 2=Moderate 54%
3=Difficult
4=Very difficult
Perceived levels of difficulty in
Perceived levels of difficulty in Clothing and Soft Furnishings
Food Production PATs Production PATs
International benchmarking of
Consumer Studies
International subjects benchmarked:
Different names (e.g. Home Economics, Family and Consumer Sciences)
South African Consumer Studies:
extensive breadth of topics
"late" introduction = challenging pacing (3 years)
“Food and Nutrition” and “Clothing” are most often
found in comparable subjects of other countries
entrepreneurship central to Consumer Studies in SA
NOT in SA Consumer Studies curriculum:
Family studies, career opportunities, home management
found in other subjects
Pedagogical guidance
Recommendations
More measurable progression in the topic
Entrepreneurship from Grades 10–12
Links to careers and industry should be clarified
and emphasised (Include Textiles up to Gr. 12)
Market potential contribution of the subject
Continued teacher development and support
Subject-specific pedagogical guidance needed
Consumer as central concept
Entrepreneurial knowledge and skills development
Detailed analytical rubrics for projects
Recommendations (cont.)
Assessment of PAT's more aligned for different
options and clearer guidance for teachers
Fewer topics in more depth
Introduce subject from Grade 8
Review "introductory" subjects in Senior Phase
(specifically Technology and Life Orientation)
Improve LTSM & use of technology to facilitate
learning
Social impact and implications
of the
Consumer Studies Curriculum
Consumer Studies equips the learner with
entrepreneurial skills for small and micro-enterprises,
a sector that the government has identified to boost job
creation
Teaches invaluable life skills
Foundation for consumer education developing
learners into responsible, informed consumers
contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in their
communities
development of the economy and social fabric in South Africa
Showcase the full potential of Consumer Studies as a
scientifically underpinned subject and a contributor to
community upliftment and consumer wellbeing
Thank you
