Culture change needed in science education

01-11-2006

by Ciara O'Brien

Fine Gael and the Labour party are proposing a radical reform of maths and science education in secondary schools to make the subjects more relevant to pupils.

The proposals, published on Thursday, are part of the political parties' bid to tackle the falling numbers opting for key science subjects in the senior cycle, and solve poor pass rates in these subjects in the Leaving Certificate.

"Our proposals for significant curriculum reform, innovation in teaching practice, the use of the internet in self-directed learning, investment in science resources for schools and the creation of ICT as a new subject will challenge this perception, benefiting all students," said Fine Gael spokesperson on Education and Science, Olwyn Enright.

"We are calling for a badly-needed culture change in maths and science teaching and learning. Today's knowledge economy means that we cannot allow so many of our young people to be left behind by the education system."

Enright described the low number of students opting for higher level physics, chemistry and maths as "a major weakness in our second level education system", and said that the perception amongst students that maths and science subjects are "difficult and poorly rewarded" must be challenged.

Labour spokesperson on Education and Science, Jan O'Sullivan, said that the subjects needed to be made more exciting.

"Recent surveys have placed Ireland average or below average in international rankings of students' maths performance. This years' Leaving Certificate Honours Maths exam highlighted how students are unprepared to tackle real-world maths problems. Despite a series of reports on maths education, Minister Mary Hanafin is failing to drive change in classrooms," she said.

O'Sullivan said that the subjects needed to concentrate on problem-solving and applying students' knowledge, rather than simply rote-learning of formula.

Meanwhile, 50 primary and post primary teachers are to receive grants to help them incorporate technology into their teaching. The awards, also announced on Thursday, will help teachers deliver subjects online, working with the Teachnet programme and covering a range of subjects such as history, biology and home economics.

Under the Teachnet programme, selected teachers will receive training in website development and content management, and once they are up to speed on the technology, they can apply for a grant for a website development programme in the classroom. These websites can then be viewed by other teachers and used to deliver the curriculum.

Thursday's awards ceremony, which will take place at sponsor Citigroup's headquarters in the IFSC in Dublin, will also see the presentation of the winner of Microsoft Innovative Teacher programme. This year's winner is a photo story, "Touching Hearts", which compares school life in Tanzania with that of primary school children in Our Lady of Mercy Primary School in Sligo.