Critical analysis of the Swaziland Physical Science Syllabus in terms of attending to global aims of science education

1. By
Moses G. Mabuza
128529

2. INTRODUCTION
Akpan (2010):
 Sc. contributes to the quality of life. i.e
health, nutrition, agric. industrial dvt. etc.
 Sc. & tech. are crucial for sust. Dvlpt.
 Therefore, must be included in ed. Systems.
 Attempts are made to improve quality of sc. curr. to
attain the sc. ed. aims.

3. NATURE OF SCIENCE
Buaraphan (2011)
 Understanding of NOS prerequisite to sc. literacy.
 NOS understanding is aim for many sc. curr.
 Hence, sc. ed. aims are discussed with NOS.

4. NATURE OF SCIENCE CONT.
National Council of Educational Research &
Training (2006)
 Sc. is a dynamic & expanding body of knowledge.
 Sc. mtd involves interconnected steps. i.e
observation, hypothesis, verification of theories
through experiments.
 Sc. laws are not fixed truths.

5. SCIENCE EDUCATION
Wikipedia
 field concerned wt sharing sc. content & process.
 Good sc. ed. - takes into acc. the learner, environ. &
science. (Council, 2006).

6. SCIENCE EDUCATION
N.C.E.R.T (2006)
Criteria for validating a sc. curr.
 Cognitive validity
 Content validity
 Process validity
 Historical validity
 Environmental validity
 Ethical validity

7. GLOBAL AIMS OF SC. ED.
 Follow from the six criteria of validity
(N.C.E.R.T, 2006).
Trowbridge, Bybee & Powell (2004)
 Identified 5 broad categories
- sc. knowledge
- sc. methods
- societal issues
- personal needs
- career awareness

8. SGCSE PHYSICAL SCIENCE
 MoET outlined aims of sc. ed.
 The aims can be classified into the 5 categories
identified by Trowbridge, Bybee & Powell (2004)

9. SGCSE PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONT.
Scientific
knowledge
Acquisition of fundamental concepts and principles of science that are
useful in everyday life and act as a base for further education.
Scientific
methods
Seeking, acquisition and development of scientific explanations of
natural phenomena.
Acquisition of skills for scientific inquiry in developing knowledge and
understanding.
Development of communication skills that are necessary for reporting
findings of practical investigations and related scientific information.
Societal
issues
Relating scientific knowledge and understanding to particular domestic,
environmental and industrial situations.
Development of awareness of the potential of indigenous technologies in
developing local societies.
Development of the desire to preserve and sustain the natural environment.
Evaluation of the positive and negative effects of a particular scientific or
technological development recognizing that a practical solution may require a
compromise between competing priorities.
Making informed decisions and judgements about economic and social
benefits and drawbacks underlying current and past developments in science
and technology in particular cultures.

10. SGCSE PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONT
Personal
needs
Development of creative and aesthetic attitudes towards science
studies and stimulation of lasting interests.
Being encouraged to participate fairly in all areas of science,
particularly girls.
Making reasoned judgements and decisions about courses of action
where science relates to personal lives, the community and the
environment.
Career
awareness
Development of a perspective in life, e.g. reverence for the creator and
an esteem for the wonders of the created universe through contact
with the subject matter.
Acquisition and development of a range of competences that will be useful
in everyday life and further pursuance of scientific studies.

11. SGCSE PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONT.
 Phys. Sc. aims are classified into the 5 global sc. ed.
aims

12. SGCSE PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONT.
Broad SGCSE Physical Science
Aim
Scientific
knowledge
Provision of a worthwhile
educational experience through
well designed studies of
experimental and practical
science.
Development of skills and
abilities that develop and
enhance scientific knowledge

and understanding
Broad Global Categories
Scientific
Social
Personal
methods
issues
needs
Career
awareness



Development of attitudes
relevant to Physical Science
Stimulation of interest in, and
for, the environment
Promotion of awareness of that
the study and practice of
science is subject to social,
economic, technological,
ethical and cultural influences
and limitations





13. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM
 Chemistry curr. analysed with respect to the broad
aims of sc. ed.
Scientific Knowledge
 Dvlp understanding of natural systems
 Sc. facts, concepts & principles emphasised
 Topics e.g particulate nature of matter, atoms elements
& cpds, chem. rxns, acids, bases & salts, periodic
table, non-metals.

14. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
 Now sc. knowledge aims are extended to include:
- understanding of sc. inquiry
- science & technology
- history & nature of science

15. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
However,
 Sc. Teachers still use this aim in a narrow sense that
focuses on:
- definitions
- scientific facts
- sc. concepts & principles
 Therefore attainment of aim is compromised

16. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
Scientific Methods
 Dvlp understanding & ability to use mtds of inquiry
 Chem. curr. attempts dvlp investgtn skills
 E.g identifying ions by exptn
However,
 Sc. teachers do not use practical work

17. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
 Sc. Methods aim is not adequately achieved
 Topics e.g exptal techniques, chem. rxns, acids, bases
& salts
Social Issues
 Prepare citizens who deal with science-related social
issues
 Topics e.g definition of chem. & its importance in
society, organic chem. (pollution)

18. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
However,
 Sc. teachers are addicted to tg chem. facts, concepts &
principles
 Hence, attainment of aim affected

19. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
Personal Needs
 Understanding & fulfilment of personal needs
 Few cases of personal needs aims
 Topics e.g non-metals – water purification & effects of
common pollutants

20. CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM CONT.
Career Awareness
 Should inform learners abt careers in science
 Chem. curr. does not address this explicitly
However,
 Curr. provide dvlpt of competencies for:
- everyday use
- further pursuance of sc. studies

21. CONCLUSION
 Physical Sc. Syllabus matches well with global stds
However,
 Chemistry section lacks in career awareness &
personal needs.
As a whole, the Phys. Sc. curr. does attend to global aims
of sc. ed. to a larger extent.

22. - THE END -
THANK YOU!
Babe Mabuza