Infusing economics into the primary school curriculum

Abstract

This study proposes to argue that economics is compatible and contributes to the aims of the Maltese Primary School Curriculum and that economic concepts and ideas can be imparted to and learnt by nine to ten year old children in a curriculum based on the teaching of separate subjects. The study involves the identification and selection of a number of principles which the researcher then infused into the existing curriculum with the intention of providing structured opportunities in which the learning objectives associated with both economics and the 'host' subject could be achieved. The researcher set out to determine whether the selected economics content can be effectively taught through the use of an experiment. The higher significant gain in scores of the experimental group, deduced from a pre- and post-test administered before and after economics instruction, as contrasted with a similar control group, provides evidence that children can comprehend economics. The study provides also suggestions on how to teach economics through topic work. Finally, recommendations are included on how a policy in support of economics education at the primary level can be successfully introduced at a national level.