Ecobreves – MEXICO: Teachers Lacking in Natural Sciences

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

MEXICO CITY, Sep 8 2008 (IPS) - An assessment of science teachers of secondary schools in Mexico shows that they know very little about physics, chemistry or biology. The survey by the Center for Applied Sciences at the Autonomous National University of Mexico consisted of tests and interviews, conducted in 2007 with 438 science teachers in 10 of the country's 32 states. In biology their average score was 4.8 out of 10, 3.3 in physics and 3.6 in chemistry.

“With those teachers, we can't learn. Then how will we be able to take care of the environment in the future?” wondered Alexis Cruz, a 17-year-old student at a public school in the capital and member of an environmental club.

Basic questions about ecology did not get satisfactory replies. “There will not be enough professionals capable of resolving the serious environmental problems we have,” Cruz told Tierramérica.