PENDIDIKAN BIOTEKNOLOGI DALAM MATA PELAJARAN BIOLOGI DARI KACAMATA PELAJAR SEKOLAH MENENGAH

Abstract

Biotechnology encompasses biology and technology and it has been incorporated in the education system globally and in Malaysia as well. Biotechnology has been identified as one of the five core technologies that will accelerate Malaysia’s transformation into a highly industrialized nation by 2020 (Ninth Malaysia Plan, 2006). Nonetheless, the knowledge and awareness of the Malaysian public toward biotechnology is considered moderate. This prompted the researchers of this study to explore the students’ interest as well as to explore students’ needs in studying biotechnology in school. A questionnaire was adminsitered to 427 secondary school students (aged 17 years) who volunteered from six schools in the Klang Valley. The findings showed that students are keen to study biotechnology, they hope that more information on biotechnology can be provided in the textbooks and they want to be exposed to biotechnology related hands-on activities by teachers who are knowledgable of the syllabus, and they want opportunity to access sufficient laboratory equipment to conduct interesting biotechnology experiments as well.