Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers

We explored the challenges that five newly qualified teachers (NQTs) faced in the teaching and learning situation and how they addressed their challenges. The teachers taught integrated science at the Junior High School (JHS; ages 12-15 years). Data were collected through observation, interview, and...

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Main Authors: Cecilia Boakye, Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-05-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017706710
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author Cecilia Boakye
Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
author_facet Cecilia Boakye
Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
author_sort Cecilia Boakye
collection DOAJ
description We explored the challenges that five newly qualified teachers (NQTs) faced in the teaching and learning situation and how they addressed their challenges. The teachers taught integrated science at the Junior High School (JHS; ages 12-15 years). Data were collected through observation, interview, and content analysis. We used the inductive and deductive analytic methods, and we found out that the NQTs faced the following challenges among others: (a) lack of resources for teaching and learning, (b) time management, (c) deficiency in content knowledge, (d) their students’ inability to understand the lessons taught, (e) student indiscipline, (f) lack of their students’ interest in science, and (g) their inability to complete the integrated science syllabus. The challenge of lack of resources and deficiency in content knowledge cut across all the NQTs. Some of the methods that they used to solve their challenges are (a) improvising equipment, (b) modifying their teaching, and (c) talking with parents. It was recommended, among other things, that the basic schools should be supplied with equipment/materials and also that preservice training should equip prospective teachers with skills to help them face their challenges.
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spelling doaj.art-77edbba9e7634470a89fef42d19bb27b2022-12-21T18:25:16ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402017-05-01710.1177/2158244017706710Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science TeachersCecilia Boakye0Joseph Ghartey Ampiah1University of Cape Coast, GhanaUniversity of Cape Coast, GhanaWe explored the challenges that five newly qualified teachers (NQTs) faced in the teaching and learning situation and how they addressed their challenges. The teachers taught integrated science at the Junior High School (JHS; ages 12-15 years). Data were collected through observation, interview, and content analysis. We used the inductive and deductive analytic methods, and we found out that the NQTs faced the following challenges among others: (a) lack of resources for teaching and learning, (b) time management, (c) deficiency in content knowledge, (d) their students’ inability to understand the lessons taught, (e) student indiscipline, (f) lack of their students’ interest in science, and (g) their inability to complete the integrated science syllabus. The challenge of lack of resources and deficiency in content knowledge cut across all the NQTs. Some of the methods that they used to solve their challenges are (a) improvising equipment, (b) modifying their teaching, and (c) talking with parents. It was recommended, among other things, that the basic schools should be supplied with equipment/materials and also that preservice training should equip prospective teachers with skills to help them face their challenges.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017706710
spellingShingle Cecilia Boakye
Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers
SAGE Open
title Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers
title_full Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers
title_fullStr Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers
title_full_unstemmed Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers
title_short Challenges and Solutions: The Experiences of Newly Qualified Science Teachers
title_sort challenges and solutions the experiences of newly qualified science teachers
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017706710
work_keys_str_mv AT ceciliaboakye challengesandsolutionstheexperiencesofnewlyqualifiedscienceteachers
AT josephgharteyampiah challengesandsolutionstheexperiencesofnewlyqualifiedscienceteachers