New Perspectives in Science Education

There are three sectors in the educational system in Malta: Church, independent and state schools. Students have to adopt subject choices (in almost all cases) at (roughly) age 12-13, prior to the beginning of their third year of secondary schooling. Pupils sit for an external 16+ Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examination at the end of secondary school. Pupils who satisfy the requirements can proceed to a two-year post secondary Matriculation course. At Sixth Form, students choose two subjects at Advanced level and three subjects at Intermediate level and have the compulsory ‘Systems of Knowledge’; the six subjects constitute the Matriculation Certificate, an external 18+ examination, which is a passport to university. Considering the data for the past 14 years, from 2004 till 2017, the study presents the trends, changes and fluctuations as regards subject choice and performance with respect to the science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) at both SEC and Matriculation Certificate (Intermediate and Advanced) levels. The levels of subject registration and performance at the two levels are compared, contrasted and analysed. These trends for the science subjects are also compared and contrasted with those of a number of compulsory SEC subjects (as Mathematics and English Language) and with those of other groups of subjects, namely the foreign languages, the commercial subjects and other subjects (as Home Economics, Design and Technology, Computer Studies, etc.).  Data is also analysed per school-type and per gender. Possible fluctuations, shifts and displacements from one ‘area’ to another will be highlighted.   

Keywords: Subject choice, performance, science subjects;

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