Pupils put off science

In the UK, the House of Lords published a report “Science Teaching in Schools” saying pupils find science A-levels too difficult and other subjects more "funky". The Lords noted a general decline in the popularity of science and mathematics A-levels over the last decade.

Reasons

• Traditional science subjects and maths were regarded as more difficult.
• Fashion: pupils like psychology, media studies and photography, which young people call "funky subjects". For example, 50,000 students took psychology A-level in 2005, "significantly more than sat physics or chemistry".
• Other factors: school league tables, "teaching to the test", poor labs, misplaced health and safety fears and a shortage of teachers.

On Friday the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, stressed the importance he attached to science and urged youngsters to consider it as a career.

Are you interested? You can read a BBC text to know more about this topic.

Reading test - Complete with pieces of information:

1. ..................................................................... are examples of "Funky subjects".
2. In 2005, physics and chemistry had fewer .............................................................
3. People usually think that .................................................................
4. The Lords drew the conclusion ...........................................
5. A couple of days ago Tony Blair asked pupils ...............................................