Economics-Technology-Household/Social affairs (WTH) at the secondary school
With the introduction of the subject of economics, technology, household / social studies (WTH/S) in the 2004/2005 school year as a result of the Saxon curriculum reform, a transition process from the former profile subjects of the Saxon secondary school to the complete introduction of the new subject and its specializations took place in ascending order from grade 7 to grade 10, which was completed in the 2007/08 school year.
In terms of content and structure, the subject builds on the subjects of handicrafts (elementary school) and technology/computers (grades 5, 6) and adds home economics and business components to the previous mainly technology-specific elements. The aim is to closely link the content of the subjects, with the economic component with its economic ways of thinking and acting acting acting as a "unifying bracket" for the individual areas.
With reference to student-related, age-relevant areas of life such as the household, the public sphere and business, as well as the primary human needs of clothing, food and housing, the curriculum content is brought together and placed under a central theme at each grade level.
The subject WTH is taught in groups (max. 16 pupils) in grades 7 to 9.
Grade 7: 2 hours/week
Grades 8 and 9: 3 hours/week
The subject WTH with its focus on the real world and activity-oriented didactics quickly achieved a high level of acceptance among the students. The first-time integration of career-oriented elements into the curriculum in grades 7 - 9 had a positive developmental impact on the entire school's work in this important area. The subject developed into a unique selling point and a core subject at secondary schools in Saxony.
In the winter semester of 2012/13, the TU Dresden began undergraduate teacher training for the subject WTH/S, as there had long been a high demand for specialist teachers at secondary schools (now secondary schools).
The course content is very complex and varied in line with the curriculum of the subject with its three integrative disciplines (Technology, Business Administration and Economics and Ecotrophology) and includes a strong practical component in addition to the scientific subject training.
The curriculum for WTH/S was revised in 2019. The current version can be viewed in the curriculum database of the Free State of Saxony .