Primary Science Education Development in the South Pacific: Some Views About Interventions

Abstract

Improving primary science education in the Pacific is of increasing importance if these small, developing island nations are to improve the quality of life of their citizens and achieve sustainable economic growth. The education systems in the Pacific are commonly legacies of old colonial powers and are dominated by external summative examinations that drive a teacher-dominated didactic pedagogy. Changing this situation is likely to be a long-term issue. However, in the short to medium term science education at the primary level would benefit from some simple interventions that are achievable, sustainable and relatively inexpensive when compared to many aid-funded projects. The authors propose a regional approach to curriculum development and the employment of simple readers to deliver science concepts through literacy as a means of improving the current situation.