New trends in physics teaching, v.4; The ... - unesdoc - Unesco

A case study of science teacher education for a new
educational system
J.M. YAKUBU.
Teacher education: a case study
The Takoradi Workshop on Science Education (April 1970) was a revolution in the history of
science education in Ghana. The Workshop, which was attended mainly by practising teachers,
not only surveyed science teaching in the country but also outlined the aim and objectives of
science education at all levels and constructed relevant syllabuses.
The teaching of hygiene, nature study ahd gardening in the elementary schools, which had
yielded satisfactory results in the Ghanaian society in the 1920s, had degenerated into note
taking and rote learning. By the mid-fifties, general dissatisfaction with the teaching of science in
the elementary school was mounting. The Ministry of Education was becoming anxious about
the state of affairs and, in collaboration with the British Council and the Ghana Association of
Science Teachers (GAST), carried out pilot studies, organized courses for training college tutors
and developed syllabuses and encouraged their use. By 1967, full-time personnel, equipment,
books, finance and bursaries for the training of Ghanaian staff were received from the British
Council, Unesco and the Education Development Centre (EDC). The Science Unit of the Ministry
of Education was established to care for science teaching in the elementary schools. Through the
efforts of the Science Unit, primary school science teaching began to be based on the materials
produced by the African Primary Science Programme (APSP). Concern was being shown over the
science knowledge of a pupil whose education ends at elementary level.
Training-college science reflected what had been taught in the elementary schools - Hygiene,
Nature Study and Gardening. Science courses in the colleges consisted of Health Science, Nature
Study, Biology and Rural Science. From 1955 to 1962, the Science Education Unit of the
Institute of Education, University of Ghana at Legon, and GAST worked closely with the Science
Panel of the National Teacher Training Council (NTTC) to improve science teaching in the
colleges. A training college sub-committee was appointed in 1963. It was resolved that the
introductory science syllabus used for years 1 and 2 in the secondary schools should be adopted
for years 1 and 2 in training colleges. A new syllabus was to be drafted for years 3 and 4. This
was to include topics such as Further Properties of Matter, Domestic Electricity, A Biological
Study of the Environment - Man’s use of Nature, Materials, Continuity of Life and Energy as a
Wave form. By 1965, the British Council and the NTCC Science Panel collaborated to publish
the teaching notes for the introductory science course and later for the syllabus for years 3 and 4.
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