Practice and Challenges Facing Practical Work Implementation in Natural Science Subjects at Secondary Schools

Abstract

Practical work is very crucial for teaching and learning process in school science and good quality of practical work implementation helps to develop pupils’ understanding of scientific processes and concepts. However, it has been shown that practical work in science subjects almost ignored or not effectively implemented in secondary schools in many countries of the world because of different factors. The main purpose of this article was to identify challenges facing implementing practical work in natural science subjects and its practice at secondary schools in different areas of the world based on different published works. The most recent and majorly the last 15 years that published in reputable journals have been critical reviewed and used as a direct source. Hence, the dominant factors frequently that indicated in most findings special in developing countries to implement practical activities of natural science subjects in secondary schools are problems related to school resource are: lab equipment and supply, laboratory manuals, laboratory rooms, class size and ICT access.  The second ranked determinant is problem related to teachers and technicians related issues which include: teacher’s perception and motivation, teachers’ skills competence, teachers work experience, the laboratory technicians, job satisfaction and teachers work load. The other factors are exams and assessments, curriculum and educational administrations are identified as different factors. However, each of them affect the implementation of practical work with varies degree from school to school and also among different countries. The factors affecting in developed countries and developing are somewhat different. The implementation process of practical work in science education is still limited in Ethiopian schools and students perform poorly in science subjects.

Keywords: Practical Work, Secondary Schools, practice, challenges.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-31-01

Publication date: November 30^th 2019