Commerce in the Senior Secondary School Curriculum aims at preparing students for further education and employment. The Botswana Senior Secondary Commerce syllabus has been designed to build on the foundations laid by the Junior Secondary Business Studies syllabus.

The syllabus has been developed on the basis that Commerce has been allocated 4 periods per week of 40 minutes each. The subject is one of the optional subjects within the framework of the entire senior secondary programme.

Rationale

Commerce is a subject which explains commercial principles, processes and behaviour. The subject places emphasis on both academic and practical skills that prepare students for the world of work, employment and further studies. The study of the subject helps students to explain commercial activities and the behaviour of institutions in the commercial world. It equips students with fundamental skills such as problem solving, communication, team work, self assessment, critical evaluation and logical thinking. Through the study of Commerce learners will appreciate the importance of good working habits, develop positive attitudes towards work and interest in self employment, as well as the development of entrepreneurial skills.

Commerce relates with other business subjects such as Accounting, Business Studies, Office Procedures and Business Economics. It develops the experiences in other practical subjects such as Art, Design and Technology, Agriculture and Home Economics into viable business ideas which may provide students with a career in future.

1. Aims of the Senior Secondary Programme

On completion of the two year Senior Secondary Programme learners should have:-

• acquired knowledge, developed confidence and ability to assess their personal strengths and weaknesses and be realistic in choosing appropriate career/employment opportunities and or further education and training.
• developed skills to assist them in solving technical and technological problems as they relate to day- to-day life situations.
• developed desirable attitudes and behavioural patterns in interacting with the environment in a manner that is protective, preserving and nurturing.
• acquired attitudes and values, developed basic skills and understanding to allow for execution of rights and responsibilities as good citizens of Botswana and the world
• developed information technology skills as well as an understanding and appreciation of their influence in the day-to-day activities.
• acquired knowledge, attitudes and practices that will ensure good family and health practices including awareness and management of epidemics (such as HIV/AIDS) that prepare them for productive life.
• developed pre-vocational knowledge and manipulative skills that will enable them to apply content learnt and attitudes and values developed to practical life situations in the world of work.
• developed an understanding of and acquired basic skills in business, everyday commercial transactions and entrepreneurship.
• developed foundation skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, inquiring, team work/interpersonal to help them to be productive and adaptive to survive in a changing environment.
• developed study skills required for further study and training.

Aims of the Senior Secondary School Commerce Syllabus

On completion of the two year Commerce Course students should have developed:

1. Knowledge and understanding of the commercial environment and how changes in that environment affect commercial behaviour;
2. Knowledge and understanding of the language, concepts and procedures, of everyday commercial transactions;
3. Knowledge, skills, attitudes and ethics in practical decision making, problem solving and team work;
4. Awareness of the importance and application of Information Technology in commercial activities;
5. Understanding of the characteristics, functions and purposes of commercial activities and institutions in both the public and the private sectors;
6. The ability to apply skills of numeracy, literacy, enquiry, interpretation and presentation of commercial information in solving day to day commercial problems and making decisions;
7. Knowledge and understanding of the organisation, financing and operations of commercial institutions;
8. An awareness of the nature and significance of innovation and change within the context of commercial activities;
9. Knowledge of the importance of commercial processes, entrepreneurial skills, positive work habits, values and attitudes necessary for the world of work;
10. The ability to assess personal achievement and skills in the pursuit of commercial career opportunities and or further education.
11. Problem solving, critical thinking, communication and team work/interpersonal skills to help them to be productive and adaptive in a changing environment;
12. An appreciation of the need to protect and utilise the resources of the physical environment in a sustainable manner.

Recommended teaching methods

 The syllabus encourages a learner-centred approach to learning and teaching as emphasised in the Curriculum Blueprint. In such an approach, the learner is at the centre of most activities and the teacher plays a facilitating role for learning to take place. This means the teacher should use a variety of action oriented methods, such as project work, visits to commercial institutions, simulations, group discussions and class presentations to get the learners to participate actively in the learning and teaching processes. The teacher is required to keep up to date with improved business practice in  commercial houses in order to bring the latest developments in industry into the classroom.

In order to facilitate the learner centred approach, there should be pre-planning by both teacher and learners. The teaching method should lead to hands-on commercial activities in the class. Wherever possible a resource person from commercial houses should be invited to give demonstrations in order to facilitate practical learning.

Assessment Objectives

Commerce should aim at providing learners with experiences which cover the following domains: Knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, evaluation and investigation. These domains should provide guidance in the assessment of learners.

Learners should be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of facts, terms, and concepts contained in the syllabus;
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic principles, techniques and ideas through numeracy, literacy, presentation and interpretation;

Application

1. Recognise, select and organise information in verbal, numerical and diagrammatic form;
2. Apply their knowledge and understanding to situations and problems related to commerce;

Evaluation

1. Distinguish between facts and opinion and evaluate data in order to make informed judgement;
2. Identify significant issues in the commercial field in order to present reasoned explanation, develop arguments, understand implications, make reasoned judgement and communicate them in an accurate and logical manner;

Investigation

1. Set objectives, plan and carry out an investigation of particular commercial situation;
2. Select, analyse, interpret and evaluate data from a variety of sources appropriate to the objectives of the investigation;
3. Present the results of an investigation appropriately.

Assessment

The Botswana Senior Secondary Commerce syllabus will be assessed using a variety of continuous assessment instruments in order to ensure that learners attain the set aims. School based assessment in the form of projects, tests, assignments, etc. will be used. The outcome of the assessment methods will be used to improve instruction and for promotion.

A terminal examination will be administered at the end of the course. Continuous assessment in the form of coursework will contribute to the certification. Where it will not be possible to offer coursework, alternative papers to test the same knowledge, skills and attitudes will be used. Examination syllabus will be developed by the examining body to provide guidance to teachers on the objectives to be tested.

Organisation of the syllabus content

 The syllabus is organised around broad content areas called modules and each module has one or more units. The units are subdivided into topics. Each topic consists of general objectives which give rise to specific objectives. The specific objectives describe what learners are expected to do.