UK Schools to Drop 'Dumbed Down' Science

Looks like they're discovering in the UK that merging all the sciences into a single course doesn't work that well.

The move is an acknowledgement that the double science GCSE, taken by 95 per cent of state schools since its introduction in the 1990s, fails to prepare pupils for sixth form study.

I think the schools and universities in the UK are still struggling in trying to raise the enrollment and popularity of physics to the students. The declining trend seems to have been reserved here in the US, at least for now.

Zz.

IU Physics Majors Increases by 30%

It was reported earlier that the number of US high school students enrolled in physics reached record level. As a result, there is a surge in the number of physics majors in colleges. Indiana University is the first to report a significant increase in the number of students majoring in physics.

They are also quite progressive in recognizing that many students may not want to continue in the traditional physics program by going on to getting a Ph.D. More and more schools are offering non-traditional paths for students to be more employable by the time they receive their undergraduate degree.

Zz.

High School Physics Enrollment Hits Record High

At least this is one good news of the year so far. Enrollment in high school physics in the US hits record high. This is also reported by the AIP. The trend is also predicted to continue.

Now we can consider the quality of physics education that they are getting. We should not be satisfied with just the qantity alone. Bad physics education at the high school level will have the reverse effect of turning student OFF of physics. So this good news should be the impetus to further improve the quality of physics education.

Still, this is good news all around, considering that Europe, and especially the UK, are having some trouble in getting students interested in pursuing studies in physics.

Zz.