Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to examine the factors affecting teaching and learning of
Physics in Ghanaian Senior High Schools. Purposive and convenient sampling
techniques were used to sample teachers and students respectively. The sample size
for the study comprised 50 teachers and 300 students. Descriptive statistics such as
percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to analyse the data. The
decline in the number of students taking physics could be due to a combination of
factors including the perception that physics is a difficult subject with low levels of
student achievement; the perceived nature of the subject as being highly mathematical
and abstract; and how the subject is taught at the high school level. The findings
revealed that demonstration and discussions to illustrate concepts/ phenomena,
emphasizing qualitative thinking and presentation of concepts, laying emphasis on
mathematical presentation of concepts/students planning and doing their experiment,
teacher demonstration of problem-solving on the whiteboard, and teaching and
learning being teacher-centered are the main teaching approaches of physics in senior
high schools. The main constraining factors of teaching and learning physics in senior
high schools were inadequate professional physics teachers, inadequate laboratory
equipment, students‟ perception of physics, inadequate number of physics teachers
and students finding physics too mathematical and challenging. With regards to the
way forward, it was identified from the teachers‟ responses that there should be better
salaries and/or incentives for physics teachers, there should be more teacher
professional development on physics practicals and training of more graduate teachers
must be encouraged and supported. The responses of the students indicated that
appropriate authorities should provide adequate laboratory equipment and there
should be more training for physics teachers. The study concluded that due to the
important nature of the subject it is important for stakeholders of education to come
together to find modern ways of teaching the subject and also address critical
challenges such as inadequate laboratory equipment, and professional development of
teachers among others.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Physics Education,
Faculty of Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of
the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Science Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
