Teachers’ views on the role of science practical activities in the teaching of science in Ghanaian senior secondary schools

Abstract

Ghana, like many other countries, has a strong tradition of doing practical work in senior secondary school science. In line with this tradition, the Senior Secondary School (SSS) science syllabuses issued by Curriculum Research and Development Division, and the West African Examination Council emphasize attainment of scientific knowledge, development of laboratory skills, and attitudes. This study surveyed the views of 50 science teachers’ in 10 SSS in the Central Region of Ghana on the role science practical activities play in the teaching and learning of science using a questionnaire. Teachers’ views on the role of science practical activities were mainly that of using them to support the teaching of scientific knowledge, and to some extent the development of attitudinal and laboratory skills. There was little emphasis on the use of science practical work to develop students’ cognitive skills