A Study Of The Level Of Achievement Of 5th Grade Students Of Tribal And Non-tribal Areas In Some Selected Competencies of Environmental Studies.

Abstract

Very soon our Society will be entering in the 21st century, which will be dominated by Science and Technology. This will require our education system to be science oriented. Science occupies a very significant place in the process of social change. It is felt that teaching of science in a particular class should not be a "preparatory" to the next higher class. Statistics shows that quite a small percentage of the school going children are able to study science at higher level. A large proportion of students have no access to science and technological education beyond a few years of schooling, more over what ever science they learn in their school, remains purely academic. They do not use scientific knowledge in their daily life.The basic knowledge of science has become indispensable in all spheres of life like health, nutrition, agriculture, industry etc. The narrow focus of science education is to be extended from this point of view, and not only the school going children but 'out - of - school' population should also be given the basic knowledge of science. The problem related to science education is not unique to India alone. Interests in science and the effective ways of popularising it, is a problem with far reaching implications, in many countries today, especially in the countries which are in the process of fast development. There has been immense stress on popularising science which certainly has its repercussions on the rural children. They feel science to be a difficult subject because there has been very little improvement in the quality of rural science teachers. Even in urban areas, more and more stress is given on mere memorization of scientific concepts, principles and phenomena which otherwise call for proper comprehension, application and development of scientific skills along with generation of scientific temper and a proper attitude for science oriented learning experiences.