Development of reflexive critical thinking through the teaching of history in Benguela

Critical and reflective thinking is a necessary characteristic of the teacher in the present context. Based on observation and experience as teachers at the Institute of Education Sciences of Benguela, University of Katyavala Buíla, we see that the teaching of history in the Degree in Teaching History contributes little to the development of critical and reflective thinking. This is a very relevant aspect if we consider the need to train good critical and reflective teachers who are able to promote critical thinking in their students in a way that questions the different social contexts. The study presented here consisted in analyzing critical-reflexive thinking through the teaching of history. Non-participant observation and a questionnaire were used for this purpose. The information gathered showed that the respondents point to a low contribution of the teaching of history to the development of critical and reflective thinking. In this way, new methodological strategies need to be adapted in order to promote skills such as: analysis, criticism, reflection, reasoning and understanding of problems in a historical setting.