‘72% of schools have inadequate science facilities’

The issue of falling interest in science subjects is at the top of the agenda at the annual conference of the Association of Secondary Teachers today.

The association is demanding more funding to provide fully-equipped science labs and improve the teaching of science in general.

ASTI says a survey it carried out found that 72% of schools have inadequate science facilities, while 75% have not been refurbished to meet the needs of a new Junior Cert science syllabus introduced in 2003.

It also found that 91% of teachers believed laboratory technicians were needed to assist in science labs and help place more emphasis on practical experiments.

Spokesman Michael Corley says a government task force on physical sciences had already recommended many of these measures, but they have still not been implemented.