Government Okays Field Trips for Science Experiments - IOSH Happy
Mr. Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH courses), responded positively to the Government’s announcement that there was no evidence in the Health and Safety Legislations to prevent Science Trips in Schools.
He said that this was a very heartening announcement by the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons; Ministers also commenting that practical demonstrations and field trips were part and parcel of science instruction in schools, in response to many of the recommendations of the Science and technology committee.
Richard Jones and the IOSH felt that field trips were vital to educating young minds into science topics. When it was announced that science field trips would be permitted, Mr. Jones felt that the committee’s proposal was good and even went on to say that it would be a positive trend in the sense that teachers would demonstrate lessons with a well formulated lesson plan with the field trip and activities to expand their sphere of knowledge!
The Government, for its share, promised to work in tandem with the Institute of Physics, the Royal Societies of Chemistry and Biology to keep in touch with the emerging trends and update educational curricula in the practical viewpoint as well.
This was greatly welcomed by IOSH’s Richard Jones. He felt that such collaboration with professional organizations would keep the level of science and technology education in schools high and children would keep abreast of technical and professional developments. Teachers would also be in connection with centres of scientific learning and keep informed of good teaching practices.
The Government’s proposal to look into the Health and Safety legislatures to see if any ambiguous rules required to be changed that might hinder progress in Science and Technology education was greeted warmly.