Preparing Citizens for a Globalized World: The Role of the Social Studies Curriculum

Mehrunnisa A. Ali


Youth in Toronto’s ethnically diverse neighbourhoods are globally connected. They have multiple, complex, and evolving identities and affiliations, including strong links with the countries of their families’ origins. They have the capacity to appreciate changing and conflicting perspectives. However, the Ontario social studies curriculum for high schools promotes nationalism by narrowly focusing on simplistic representations of Canada, particularly in the lower grades and less academic streams. A curriculum that promotes global citizenship by taking into account the students’ multi-ethnic past, present and future, and their cognitive and affective skills, is likely to serve them better in an increasingly globalized world.