Impact of social studies education on the development of global citizenship and civic responsibility in 21st – century classrooms in Lagos State

This study examined the impact of Social Studies education on the development of global citizenship and civic responsibility in 21st-century classrooms in Lagos State, Nigeria. Recognizing that Social Studies serves as a core platform for fostering democratic values, civic engagement, and intercultural understanding, the research investigated how instructional practices, teacher competence, and technology integration influence learners’ civic and global competencies. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, involving 480 respondents comprising 120 Social Studies teachers and 360 pupils selected across six educational districts in Lagos State. Three instruments: Teacher Questionnaire (TQ), Pupil Questionnaire (PQ), and Classroom Observation Checklist (COC) were used for data collection, with reliability coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.79. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Linear Regression at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between Social Studies instructional practices and pupils’ global citizenship competencies (r = 0.61, p < 0.05), as well as between Social Studies exposure and civic responsibility (r = 0.59, p < 0.05). Regression analysis further showed that teachers’ professional knowledge, pedagogical approaches, and ICT integration jointly explained 48% of the variance in the effectiveness of Social Studies education (R² = 0.480, p < 0.05). The study concludes that learner-centered, participatory, and technology-enhanced Social Studies instruction substantially promotes civic engagement and global awareness. It recommends continuous teacher professional development, integration of ICT tools, and the adoption of experiential civic learning strategies to enhance Social Studies’ transformative potential in nurturing globally minded and civically responsible citizens in Lagos State schools.