Abstract:
This article discusses the difficulties of developing and implementing a national social studies curriculum in the Republic of Nauru during a time of political change and social expansion. The nature and purpose of education in a Pacific island nation are examined. The explanation of the process of curriculum development that follows is informed by a knowledge-based approach. This is in contrast to the cultural relevance and economic imperative explanations that inform the social studies curriculum itself. The article also documents the journey taken from the writer’s perspective as an ‘outsider’ and reflects on the expectations and realities of a 21st century education for the teachers and children of Nauru.
