Features of Commerce Curriculum

Features of Commerce Curriculum

• Following are the special features to be considered while transacting commerce curriculum.

Linkage with Industry

In order to have experience to the world of work, the learners shall have to have an interaction with outside organizations, agencies and community at large. The schools having commerce stream have to take an initiation in establishing this linkage with the industry. The subject business studies provide immense possibilities for linkage with industries including service sectors. Focusing only on the theoretical and conceptual discussions of various aspects of business and trade and talking about developing skills as well as acquisition of practical knowledge in the subject is not wise. The unit ‘Forms of business organization’ provides an understanding on the concepts of different forms of organization. But providing opportunities to visit some of these organizations and a head on discussion with the employees and managers will enhance the confidence and impart practical knowledge to the students.

Entrepreneurial Values

Commerce education should emphasis on imparting practical skills and should develop entrepreneurial values and attitudes among students, so that they are motivated to be enterprising, creative, risk bearing, taking initiative and induced to take up their own ventures. While teaching business studies, entrepreneurial values, attitudes and skills should be groomed from school days so that the pass outs can be prepared to set up their own ventures instead of looking for employment. The chapter – ‘Small business unit’ is an apt example where the facilitator can promote these values. Here an interview with  an expert will also do well to the students on the aspects of financial assistance and special schemes for setting up of such business.

ICT Enabled

NCF 2005 and KSC 2013 stress the need on developing practical skills and as a part of it, computer based education should be given emphasis. Development in the field of computers and IT has influenced the way business is transacted. The expansion of ecommerce, e-finance, e-marketing, e- business, Outsourcing business and call centre activities have influenced the business process in a great way. These have to be reflected in our syllabus also. Our business studies book very well represents on how the information technology has influenced the business transactions. The inclusion of ‘Emerging modes of businesses in the syllabus is a perfect example for this. Assigned activity on ‘googling’ various aspects can be doled out to the students. Some instances of internet usage can be to collect information on:

• Model articles of association and memorandum of association

• Registration of partnership firm

• Examples for different forms of public and global enterprises

• WTO agreement etc.

Practical skills

Greater highlight on acquisition of various skills such as presentation, communication, analytical, problem solving and listening skills which are used commonly in all commerce related occupations are given importance. The opportunities for development of these skills in students must be given focus in the curriculum and KSC 2013 puts forth that these skills can be developed through constructivism based teaching learning process while having class room transactions. The following aspects are highlighted in the curriculum revision.

• Mobilisation and utilization of all resources including human resources as well as comprehensive planning, organizational competence and intellectual leadership are necessary in students for social development. The ultimate aim of commerce education is to mould such a force, who can work for social upliftment.

• Increased production and distribution process due to industrial revolution has enhanced the role of commerce education universally.

• Every human being require a set of skills for achieving success in life and commerce education gives emphasis to development of these set of practical skills in commerce students.

• The task of utilization of resources by conservation of environment and compassion to fellow beings on one hand and enrichment of skills, rise in confidence on the other is inevitable

in students for social growth. The inculcation of the above leadership qualities in students should be the essence of teaching and learning of commerce.

• The syllabi and text books in commerce have been prepared keeping in mind the values and attitude that a commerce student should develop in the social context. The chapter on ‘social responsibility of business’ discusses how a business unit has to

take care of the society of which it is a part. Environmental protection also forms part of the unit where conservation and industrial pollution is discussed. Our objective is to sensitize the student to social issues and concerns and the fact that business can do a lot for society while fulfilling its social obligation. Another priority areas in the text book is rural development and growth, which has been given a special emphasis. Teachers

should ensure that these values are also inculcated while facilitating learning activities in the business studies classrooms.

• Curriculum transaction techniques lay stress to the attainment of learning outcomes stated in the curriculum by all learners.

• Continuous and comprehensive evaluation helps in improving students performance by identifying whether the learning outcomes has been achieved or not. A major focus is given here to improve the effectiveness of CCE by introducing different modes of assessment in teaching and learning process.