Pauline Etienne
26 February 2008
Port Louis — Science should be made more accessible and less theoretical.
The ministry is starting the work of broadening the curricular base. All pupils joining Form I this year were handed a notice that they must "at the time of opting for a subject combination for the School Certificate Programme after Form II in 2010, compulsorily opt for General Science in case they choose a non-science combination and for one non-science subject in case they opt for a pure Science combination".
Until now scientific subjects have been compulsory only for those choosing the science option for School Certificate (SC). Pupils were thus able to give up all scientific subjects at the end of Form III. However, this is no longer the case "in order to help students develop a broad educational outlook and to equip them with the widest possible range of skills and competencies". Those not opting for pure science will have to do General Science as a subject while those opting for Chemistry, Physics and Biology will be bound to take either literature in one language or another or one social science.
The minister of Education, Dharam Gokhool, explained his move at a colloquium on the teaching of science, "Students who do not opt for scientific subjects will be given a general coverage of science at SC level to enable them in the future to have a strengthened scientific background to face the requirements of an increasingly technological environment".
The number of students choosing scientific subjects at SC level has fallen steadily over the past years. This lack of interest was justified by a perception that sciences were hard for pupils. But another reason for it may also be the way these subjects have been taught so far. The lack of a hands-on approach that would bring science closer to pupils certainly contributes to the decreasing number of local scientists' apprentices.
The present initiative lies within the framework of arousing pupils' interest in scientific subjects since the ministry is recommending an accessible and less theoretical method for the teaching of General Science. This new subject should leave much room for practical teaching.
Even teachers of these subjects agreed during the colloquium that there should be more interaction between teachers and pupils. Minister Gokhool also insisted on the need for making teaching "more meaningful, attractive and interesting to learners".
This measure is part of the reform he has been preparing since coming into office. The need for a renewal of the curriculum was indicated in a report ratified by the cabinet in 2006. The idea is to give more opportunities to pupils at the earliest possible age so that they are ready to face the challenging globalised world waiting for them after their education
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