Interest of middle school students toward life and earth sciences

Abstract

Despite the importance accorded to life and earth sciences (LES) in the Moroccan curriculum, the unsatisfactory results achieved by middle school students in assessments are a cause for concern. Exploring their interest in this school subject seems essential, given its importance in stimulating their learning and success. Thus, this study aims to examine the interest of students in LES and the effect of gender, and grades obtained in LES on their interest to this school subject. The researchers used a questionnaire for data collection. Factor structure analysis revealed a 19-item questionnaire distributed into four dimensions: feeling, value, knowledge, and re-engagement. This questionnaire was administered to a sample of 970 Moroccan students in the third year of middle school. The results show that these students had a positive but low interest in LES. The participants demonstrated moderate levels of feeling, value, and knowledge associated with this school subject, but their re-engagement with it was low. In addition, the results reveal significant differences in interest in LES and its dimensions in favor of females and students with high grades. In conclusion, this study suggests the need to adopt appropriate measures to enhance Moroccan students’ interest in LES.