The Teaching of Science: Challenges and Prescription

Abstract

This is an investigative and explorative study into the challenges of teaching Integrated Science in the public Junior High Schools in the Kwahu West Municipality. The study took a look at the challenges that might exist to hinder the performances of the science teachers. All the 60 Integrated Science teachers, the 50 heads of public Junior High Schools as well as the eight circuit supervisors and science coordinators in the Municipality were purposively selected for the study. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. Data were collected with a set of questionnaire and an interview schedule and were analysed using frequencies and percentages. The results indicated that the science teachers faced some challenges in dealing with the content of Integrated Science in the Junior High Schools.  It was, therefore, recommended that there is the need for regular organisation of professional development activities such as induction and in-services by the Ghana Education Services to help them deal with the challenges.

Keywords: Pupils’ behaviour, scope and difficulty level of Integrated Science syllabus, instruction and  assessment approaches, learning environment, professionalism