Comparison of Colleges of Education (COE) Integrated Science Curriculum Vis-À-Vis the Basic School Integrated Science Curriculum in Ghana

Abstract

Science is taught as integrated science in colleges of education, Junior High School (JHS), Upper Primary (Basic 4-6) and Natural Science in Lower Primary (Basic 1-3). Analysis of the colleges of education integrated science curriculum vis-à-vis the basic school syllabus reveals how the subject is structured to prepare teachers to teach it at the basic level. A doctrinal research method design was used for the study. The study revealed that both colleges of education and basic schools Integrated Science curriculum integrate Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry and Physics which aims at giving holistic training to teacher trainees in terms of pedagogical content knowledge, whilst the basic school curriculum aims at achieving scientific and technological literacy.  Analysis of both curriculum reveals that some concepts which are very important in contemporary Ghanaian society is left out. It was recommended that there must be a national curriculum review policy on integrated science to merit the needs of society.

Keywords: Curriculum, comparison, Syllabus, Integrated Science, Curriculum implementation