Abstract:
This study investigated and described the status of Integrated Science teaching and
learning in randomly selected five (5) public and three (3) private senior high school in
Ho Municipality. The main reasons for selecting these schools were based on the target
population, controlled environment and collaboration and this was done through
defining the research questions and target population, identifying potential schools,
contacting the schools involves, gaining approval from the schools authorities, and
obtaining informed consent. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used
for gathering data. Quantitative data were obtained from the surveys of 56 senior high
school integrated science teachers and 500 senior high school students from Ho
Municipality. The study was a descriptive survey. Questionnaires, interviews and
checklist were the main instrument used for data collection. Triangulation of data from
the teachers and the students questionnaires, interviews of the head of selected senior
high schools, and checklist were used to reveal actual status of integrated science
teaching and learning in the selected public and private senior high schools in the Ho
Municipality. The study revealed that all the teachers in the public school were
professional and experienced but the private SHS teachers only 39% were professional
and experienced. The selected schools within the Municipality lacked integrated
science laboratories and lab assistants, also they did not have adequate instructional
resources for teaching and learning of Integrated Science. Teachers within the selected
schools attested to the need to use practical oriented method in teaching but for the fact
that they are not having the necessary resources they result in the use of lecture method.
Additionally, the teachers, the students and the headmasters confirmed overloaded
content of curriculum, lack of funds from the government and negative attitudes of
students toward integrated science within the municipality. In view of this, the
researcher suggested only teachers who specialize in integrated science education
should be employed to teach integrated science, the integrated science curriculum
should be restructured to meet the needs and aspiration of learners. Also, the use of
practical oriented methods in the teaching and learning of integrated science. It was
further recommended that in-service training should be regularly organized for
integrated science teachers. Effort should also be made by the government or the
relevant authorities in education to ensure that adequate teaching and learning resources
and integrated science laboratories exist at all SHS in the research area.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Science 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
November, 2023