Most of the content in the textbook first encourages student inquiry through critically thinking about the importance of nation building and the major problems that can arise from various conflicts. For example, the first chapter serves to point out the factors that distinguishes a nation from a state or country, the different challenges that Singapore faced when we first gained independence and our role as citizens in all of these. This sets the groundwork for the following chapters to come, where each chapter focuses on a particular issue and the influence and impact that it can have on the lives of every individual. From here, having stimulated students into coming up with solutions for the problems mentioned, the content then invariably veer into the role of the government in the matter and the measures taken to resolve conflicts. This can be observed in the second chapter, where it immediately states the importance of good governance in overcoming these challenges, the parliamentary system of the Singapore government and examples of policies carried out to overcome certain issues.
As such, it can be deduced that the textbook content educates students into being personally responsible citizens by encouraging actions of responsible behaviour towards their community and the aims and values reflected in the syllabus have also been matched. However, the bulk of it relies on highlighting matters of injustice and stimulating understanding and analytical skills in students about the interrelations among the community, the economy and politics to improve society. These are factors that make up a justice-oriented citizen. Hence, it appears that the orientation towards developing a participatory citizen is absent as there is very little or no mention of the importance of the planning and participation in organising help for the needy and how the government works with other community based institutions.
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