Educationists and people with special needs have revealed that general Science may lock out people with special needs from pursuing science-related courses.
The Education and Sports Ministry introduced General Science for students who couldn’t handle traditional science subjects.
Francis Okello Oloya, who is living with visual impairment told the second national symposium on inclusive education that by design, General Science doesn’t enable learners with special needs to pursue science-related programs as they advance through the educational system.
According to available information, General Science is one of the subjects in the lower secondary curriculum integrating elements of physics, chemistry, and biology.
Generous Kazinda, a Curriculum Development Specialist at the National Curriculum Development- NCDC, explained that this subject is aimed at visually impaired students and other special needs groups who might not be able to conduct conventional laboratory investigations.
Kazinda added that the subject mostly comprises fundamental application elements that students can apply in their daily lives.
He confirmed that if a learner undertakes General Science, he or she is not expected to take on a science combination/ subjects at A Level given the fact that he or she will not have the required fundamentals.
Kazinda noted that the curriculum experts will have to look into the issues raised.
