Welsh pupils 'spend most time with science secondary teachers'

A new study has revealed that those employed as secondary teachers of science subjects in Wales spend more time educating pupils than in other countries.

Of a sample of 33 countries examined for a new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study, 15-year-old Welsh pupils spent the most time studying science, averaging at four hours per week.

Education expert Professor David Reynolds told the Western Mail: "Wales does have the highest provision in the sample, which reflects that science today is more prevalent."

However, he added: "Science is resource intensive [… and] the investment of hours isn't paralleled by the results because there aren't the resources available."

His assertion is supported by the study, which found that despite the extra time spent with science-focused secondary teachers, Wales came 15th of the 33 in terms of results.

The OECD is an international organisation which exists to encourage governments around the world to tackle the problems of poverty through sustained economic growth.

Posted by Alan Douglas

Published On 08/03/2010