The Use of Audiovisual Materials in Science Teaching in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Abstract

The Arab Republic of Egypt has long been interested in promoting the use of aids in schools and universities, especially in science teaching. The general Audiovisual Aids Department was established in 1956 to produce samples, models, posters and other media. Although these efforts were largely successful, some problems hindered the full development of educational technology. Lengthy school curricula, lack of good teacher preparation programmes, scarcity of funds, bureaucracy and the traditional system of examinations are among the major obstacles. The study conducted by the author showed that the heavy demand media makes on teachers’ time is the major problem, followed by overcrowded curricula, then examinations, the negative attitude of teachers towards media and finally the inadequate preparation of teachers. The author ends the article with a hope that efforts in the educational media field can be consolidated and co‐ ordinated in using and producing films, TV programmes and science and maths lab equipment, in order to offset the dangers of verbalisation and explain abstract concepts in a concrete way.