Introduction

Geography can help us understand the Earth we are living in from a spatial perspective. It provides a systematic framework for exploring issues about the world. Geography is a discipline that combines the social sciences and the physical sciences. Thus it help us understand the dynamics of cultures, societies and economics on the one hand, and those changes in physical landscapes and environmental processes on the other.

Geography allows students to explore and understand the relationship between human beings and the Earth through the study of the three aspects of “space”, “place” and “environment”. These three elements form the core of geography in secondary school education. In seeking the above mentioned understanding, the five questions of “what”, “where”, “how”, “why” and “if” are the focus of exploration to develop a geographical framework for inquiry.

In addition, the study of geography provides students with opportunities to develop their lifelong learning skills and generic skills such as critical thinking, communication, information-processing, problem-solving, and decision-making. The enquiry approach adopted in geography helps students to develop the important abilities involving value clarification and value judgments. These are the basic conditions for achieving whole-person development. Moreover, geographical education provides students with learning experiences which allow them to understand the relationship between the individual, society and the environment and thereby develop skills that can be used in other learning and life situations.