Abstract
D.Ed. (Didactics)
South Africa is presently experiencing a transitional phase where
change is the order of the day. Providing education cannot be ruled
out. As education plays a universal role in preparing the child
for life the general demand for relevance in school education as
well as instruction in both the Science and Biology curriculums are
investigated in this research projegt.
The present provision of education in our schools does not meet the
demands of a changing and developing society. High unemployment
figures can be attributed to, inter alia, the inability of the
education system to provide a well-trained work-force. Education in
the senior secondary phase should therefore cater for a curriculum
which is more vocationally-oriented and which prepares the pupil
for a profession.
Science must simultaneously be targeted on the training of
scientists as well as non-scientists. A vocationally-oriented
content will particularly increase the relevance of the Biology
curriculum because the pupil will become aware of the practical
(iii)
application possibilities of theoretical knowledge in a profession.
In addition skills such ee , cognitive (intellectual) skills and
psychomotor (practical) skills and techniques will be developed
which will not only benefit the pupil who wants to embark a career
in biology but will also result in a general science literacy and
equip him to handle all community aspects with responsibility and
confidence.
The empirical investigation of this study centres on determining
the relevance of the themes, research skills and laboratory
techniques with regard to the present Biology syllabus aimed at
both the pupil who desires to pursue an academic course of study
and the pupil who wishes to enter a profession in the field of
biological science. Therefore lecturers and students at
institutions' for tertiary education, as well as employers and
employees of professional/vocational institutions were approached
in order to determine the relevance of the present Biology syllabus
to tertiary studies or to professional life...