Factors and influences affecting Junior Lyceum students in choosing biology as an option

Abstract

One of the aims of this research was to find the current practices used for helping students with subject choice in boys' and girls' Junior Lyceums in Malta and Gozo. For this purpose, a semi-structured interview was carried out in six Junior Lyceums with the guidance teacher responsible for coordinating subject choice. Another interview was carried out with a member of the Guidance and Counselling Services, responsible for giving schools directives about subject choice. This study also aimed to identify the factors which influence Junior Lyceum students in choosing or not choosing Biology and whether students regret this choice later on. Two questionnaires were utilized to elicit this information: one for Form 3, 4 and 5 Biology students and the other for Form 4 non-Biology students. The sample consisted of 491 boys and girls from six Junior Lyceums. The results show that different schools use different procedures for subject choice. Parents are the persons most consulted by students during their Form 2 subject choice while future careers and subject interest were found to be the most influential factors. The majority of the Biology students describe Biology as neither easy nor difficult. However, there seems to be a small decline in subject interest from Form 3 to Form 5. In view of these findings along with others, suggestions have been made for schools to improve their practices re-subject choice and to ensure that students are not steered away from Biology.