Local News

Govt urged to invest in science education

Students conduct lab tests

THE government has been urged to invest in science teaching in schools. A survey conducted by the 'Daily News' in Songea Municipality, Songea Rural, Namtumbo and Mbinga districts indicates that schools with enough science teachers and laboratories registered better performance.

It has also been learnt that such schools have also attracted many students to opt for science and in some of them girls have been performing better than boys.

"There are 168 students who are expected to seat for form four examinations this year, out of them 100 are doing science subjects," said the Mbinga Secondary School Headmaster, Mr Moses Ndunguru.

Mr Ndunguru noted that his school with only six science teachers and good laboratories has managed to lead by example among public schools in the region on better performance in science subjects.

"It is interesting to note that female students have been performing better in science subjects than boys and on average science students have been performing better than those doing arts subjects," he said.

Mr Ndunguru was speaking over the weekend during a tour by the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood team to advocate for the importance of studying science, as a way of increasing the number of students able to join nursing and midwifery courses to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

At Peramiho Girls Secondary School, girls demonstrated outstanding skills in understanding of science subjects. "With science every answer can be proved beyond reasonable doubts, we do things that we are sure of and I find it easier to perform well in science than in arts subjects," said a form four student who identified herself with one name as Rebecca.

The school's second master, Mr Issac Mahundi noted that his school was fully equipped with science laboratories and enough teachers and that science students have been making wonders in final exams.

"We are serious in making science a key in our school, just a few minutes ago I was in a laboratory preparing for biology test a subject which I teach. Our students have been performing better in science than in arts subjects," he said.

The Ruiko Secondary School Headmaster, Major Paul Rugwaguza noted that his school was well equipped with laboratory apparatus and enough science teachers, but getting students interested in science courses has remained a dream.

He, however, noted that those among the students who have dared to take science subjects have performed even better than their counterparts doing arts subjects. "In the last year's form four examinations, 90 per cent of science students passed and only 20 per cent of Arts students made it," he noted.