Teacher Learning in a Community of Practice: A Case Study of ...

and pedagogic skills associated with it. For this reason, I provide a briefoutline ofthe
essence ofthe 'discipline' from the perspective of the Department ofEducation as this
research study is based on the premise (derived from the researcher's tacit knowledge and
pilot research findings) that the above assumption is a fallacy.
The new Revised National Curriculum Statement (Department ofEducation 2002:4)
defines the EMS learning area as follows:
The Economic and Management Sciences Learning Area deals with the efficient and
effective use ofdifferent types ofprivate, public or collective resources in satisfying
people's needs and wants, while reflecting critically on the impact ofresource
exploitation on the environment and on people.
In particular, the EMS Learning Area deals with:
• The nature, processes and production ofgoods and services;
• The South African economy and the socio-economic systems in different
countries;
• Financial management and planning skills;
• Entrepreneurial skills and knowledge needed to manage self and the environment
effectively.
The learning area"... aims to equip learners with knowledge, skills, values and attitudes
that will enable them to adapt, participate and survive in an economically complex
society... (and) ... aims to promote productivity, social justice and environmental
sustainability" (ibid.).
The new Revised National Curriculum Statement envisages that the above will be
achieved by enabling learners to:
• Become economically literate;
• Understand and apply economic and management principles and concepts in a
responsible and accountable way;
• Understand and reflect critically on the wealth creation process;
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