Social science is a field in which people, their environment and society are central. It originated in the 1960s when, partly due to social and economic changes, there was more interest from education to link practice and theory and to pay more attention to the social and emotional skills of students. Interpersonal science is used in particular in MBO, but it is also known in VMBO and practical education. Most social science teachers can be found within the ‘health care and welfare’ sector, in the other sectors it occurs sporadically.
The history of social science
In the field of social science, people, their environment and society are always central. That is a broad view and does not yet really indicate clearly what it is all about.
The field of social studies arose because in the years 1964-1974 there was more interest in making less of a separation between theory and practice in secondary education and secondary vocational education. Education was organized in such a way that theoretical knowledge could be used in practice. The cause of this change in education was that far-reaching changes in society were taking place at that time. This meant that the education had to be adjusted. Education had to become socially relevant. Also, the student should not be too alienated from himself, since the education at the time was strongly focused on a separation between theory and practice. Another aspect of the increasing demand for social education education was the rapid economic development at the time. Technical developments went very fast and there was urbanization and migration. The invention of contraception made it possible to program family compositions. All factors that stimulated the demand for education in social development.
Social behavior in education
The core of social science is the study of behavior and behavioral change. The main sciences covered in the field are psychology, agology and sociology. These sciences are divided into all kinds of sub-learning areas. Social studies is the field that is applied to train the pupil / student to self-reliance in society. Interpersonal science is the knowledge that is required for a correct professional attitude, especially in MBO this is important. In VMBO and practical education, social skills are also used to prepare students for daily practice in the household and in their spare time. Guidance and coaching are the keywords in the field of social science, which is applied in VMBO and MBO. Social life teachers help students to make a career choice, guide them when they start an internship. At the MBO, the social skills teacher teaches social skills (which are necessary for the profession), career guidance and citizenship.
Use of social science in practice
The conclusion is that the field of social science can be used in a range of professions, in which behavior and behavioral developments are central. But what about the current practice in which the profession is used?
Lecturers in social science in MBO are used sporadically in the sectors Technology and Agriculture. This also applies to the Trade and Entrepreneurship and Personal Care sectors. The ?? social skills ?? needed in these professional fields are often provided by teachers from another field. The question is whether these teachers have the right expertise to provide the necessary social skills. to teach.
Estimates of Universities of Applied Sciences from the 2011-2012 school year indicate that approximately one third to half of the graduated Social Studies students will be employed in MBO, which amounts to 90 to 170 students. The other students will work in the VMBO, or the lower years of secondary education. They can also work in all kinds of positions related to human resources or social services.
In education, the need for social science teachers is greatest in the Care and Welfare sector. In 2011-2012, an estimate was made of the needs in this sector for ROCs and this shows that there is room for 80 FTEs. About 36 FTEs have non-teaching duties at the school. In recent years, a problem has arisen regarding the competence of social science teachers. Due to a change in the law in 2006, lessons may only be taught at VMBO schools if the subject of social science is explicitly stated on the timetable.