LIFE SCIENCE CURRICULUMS IN KENYA: A STUDY OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE PROJECT BIOLOGY.

摘要

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the SSP Biology in five provinces of Kenya and its relationship to the examination system.;The SSP Biology secondary schools were selected utilizing criteria developed by the researcher. The instruments used in collecting data in this study included the following: (1) student questionnaires, (2) teacher questionnaires, (3) interview/questionnaires for educational policy makers and program personnel and (4) personal observations. All the instruments were designed and developed by this researcher. These facets were examined and analyzed: (1) patterns of the SSP Biology course implementation: (i) the teaching method, (ii) objectives, (2) factors affecting the implementation of the course: (i) teacher training, (ii) science equipment, (iii) national examinations and curriculum, and (iv) attitudes towards the SSP Biology course.;Findings. The data-collecting instruments revealed several common factors affecting the implementation of the SSP Biology course. First, the positive factors: (1) Congruity between the SSP Biology course objectives and the national exams objectives; (2) High teacher interest in the heuristic teaching method; (3) Generally positive attitudes toward the SSP Biology course. Second, the impediment factors were: (1) Inadequate teacher inservice training in the heuristic method; (2) Inadequate supervision and follow-up of teachers by the Inspectorate; (3) Exams-dominated system pressured teachers to teach to the exams; (4) Inadequate supply of science equipment and curriculum materials; (5) Excessive difficulty of some units and shallowness of other units; (6) Lack of consistent involvement of teachers in the development and revision of the course.;Procedure. Factors affecting the implementation of the SSP Biology course were identified through relevant literature and interviews with Kenyan educational policy makers. Only the SSP Biology course development and its implementation in Kenya since 1965-1980 was examined.