TITLE:
Challenges in Teaching Integrated Science in Junior High Schools
AUTHORS:
Philip Dorsah, Gabriel Awini, Mary Okyer, Abdul-Ganiu Alhassan, Issahaku Shahadu, Alban Kaningen Nubazung Kpemuonye
KEYWORDS:
Integrated Science, Science Education, Junior High School, Science Laboratories, Teaching Learning Resources, Kassena-Nankana
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.11 No.2,
February
26,
2024
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difficulties of teaching integrated science at the Junior High School level in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality. Based on the positivist paradigm, a survey design was adopted. The study sampled eleven (11) integrated science teachers on purpose. The main challenges of teaching integrated science were discovered to be a lack of laboratories (M = 1.0, SD = 0.00), a lack of laboratory apparatus and equipment (M = 1.85, SD = 0.95), a lack of chemicals for simple experiments (M = 1.22, SD = 0.36), insufficient teaching and learning materials (M = 2.55, SD = 1.09), and insufficient curriculum materials (M = 1.86, SD = 0.64). There were no issues with teacher qualification (M = 3.73, SD = 1.56), teacher adequacy (M = 3.27, SD = 1.19), students’ attitudes toward integrated science (M = 3.64, SD = 0.78), or teaching strategy (M = 3.23, SD = 0.28). This means that competent teachers are available in schools to teach integrated science. The study suggested that well-equipped laboratories be established, as well as investments in instructional and educational resources.