Reevaluating Chemistry Education in High Schools: A Scientific Necessity

Chemistry has evolved significantly, aligning more closely with natural sciences and biology due to its vital role in pharmacy, agriculture, and environmental technology. However, in the Algerian secondary education system, chemistry remains marginalized compared to physics. This is evident in the baccalaureate examinations, where physics accounts for 65% of the grade, compared to 35% for chemistry. The current practice of assigning both subjects to a single teacher is increasingly seen as ineffective given the divergence of these specialized fields. Furthermore, the merger of physics and chemistry departments in teacher training colleges has hindered deep specialization. To rectify this, experts suggest separating the instruction of these two subjects—a model adopted by countries like Germany and the UK—to improve the quality of education and better prepare students for modern scientific and labor market demands.