Students ’ Motivation to Learn Chemistry in Slovak Republic

Slovak National Report contains basic information about the situation of teaching chemistry in Slovak primary and secondary schools. Mentioned are the main problems in the actual teaching of chemistry with respect to the student motivation. They are based on two major surveys conducted by experts in 2007 and 2008 in primary and secondary schools. These surveys reflect the overall situation in the teaching of science in Slovakia nowadays. The situation is partly the result of a complete change of structure in the vocational education after 1989, partly the consequence of liberalization and destruction or re-orientation of many professional schools focusing on teaching chemistry. The report provides background information on the system of teaching chemistry at Slovak schools of all levels.The results of the above surveys are given in Section 4 as well as at the end of the national report. The report names the main challenges and obstacles to students' motivation for learning chemistry, teacher approaches and possible solutions. At the same time, the report presents current most innovative resources and materials for teachers of chemistry, which, in the last three years developed in Slovakia. It includes particularly the Ministry of Education‘s project supported by the EU- new innovative curriculum and chemistry textbooks for teachers and students in the process of education modernization for primary and secondary schools, as well as other major foreign sources. The report also contains basic information on schools, teachers and experts in Slovakia involved in the project as well as their collaboration on the development of new curricula and approaches. The report also lists the results of a joint workshop of teachers and experts, their views on the current state of teaching chemistry in Slovakia in terms of student motivation as well as other problems in teaching of chemistry in Slovakia