Factors influencing the take-up of physics within second-level education in Ireland - the teachers' perspective

Yurgos Politis, Maureen Killeavy, Peter I Mitchell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

There has been a disturbing decline in the take-up of physics within second-level education in Ireland since the early nineties. Here, an analysis is presented of the main factors influencing the take-up of physics from the perspective of secondary school teachers. The database underpinning the analysis is based on a comprehensive survey of teacher opinion in Irish schools conducted in December 2004. The sample included all such schools in Ireland and was directed at school principals, senior cycle physics teachers, and junior cycle science teachers. The data reveal that most senior cycle physics teachers in Ireland do not possess a ‘physics-dominated’ primary degree, are dissatisfied with the technical back-up available to them and their students, consider that many of their students lack the basic mathematical skills needed for physics, believe their students are not adequately informed about career opportunities in physics, and feel students are disadvantaged in regard to grade points in the leaving certificate examination compared with most other subjects. These findings echo those of a previous report by the Government Task Force on the Physical Sciences and lend renewed urgency to the necessity of implementing a comprehensive action programme to reverse the decline in physics take-up before it impacts negatively on the Irish economy.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)39-55
Number of pages17
JournalIrish Educational Studies
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

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