A comparative analysis of school physics curriculum content in selected countries

Abstract

Meaningful curriculum reform is central to the provision and acquisition of globally relevant scientific skills. A globally competitive curriculum fosters the cultivation of skills required for sustainable economic growth and development. In addition, it is imperative to harness the affordances associated with the provision of intellectually stimulating school physics curriculum content in order to foster the development of cognitive and reflective skills. In response to this key imperative, a comparative analysis of school physics curriculum content in selected countries was carried out with a view to identify levels of commonalities and the depth up to which each curriculum extends. Comparative analysis of school physics curriculum content in selected countries revealed striking inherent characteristic features that serve to provide the structural differentiation between these curricula. The level of economic growth and development in selected countries appeared to be a function of the quality and depth of the school physics curriculum content. Theoretical implications for meaningful curriculum reform are discussed.