The Challenges of Constructing a Model for Science Education – Differences in Students’ and Teachers’ Attributes of Six Partner Countries

The Europe Commission (EC) initiated a number of studies to determine the reasons for the decline in the study of science and science literacy among European students. The Science Education for Diversity is one of the many projects funded under EC’s Seventh Framework Programme. This project hopes to find ways to improve science education in order to respond more effectively to the new student diversity in the European classroom. Lebanon, India, Turkey and Malaysia, countries where there is a rich diversity of cultures and yet science remains a popular career choice, were invited to join in the study with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This paper presents the findings from the six partner countries on the perceptions and attitudes of students and teachers towards science and learning science.