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Science teaching in Indonesia has undergone major reforms since independence. We examine the role of practical activities in secondary science from an international perspective and contrast this to a developing country perspective, identifying a number of constraints limiting the implementation of practical work. In examining major curriculum and teacher training reforms in Indonesia, continuing influences on science education from industrialized countries are acknowledged; however, unlike many other developing countries, Indonesia has essentially implemented curriculum and teacher training reforms using a pool of overseas trained senior teachers and locally trained personnel. A number of research studies on physics practical work in Indonesia are described, and the benefits and constraints of implementing practical work in physics classrooms are discussed.

Science teaching in Indonesia has undergone major reforms since independence. This paper examines the role of practical activities in secondary science from an international perspective and contrasts this with a developing country perspective. In examining major curriculum and teacher training reforms in Indonesia, continuing influences on science education from industrialised countries are acknowledged; however, unlike many other developing countries, Indonesia has essentially implemented curriculum and teacher training reforms using a pool of overseas trained senior teachers and locally trained personnel A number of research studies on biology practical work i,n Indonesia suggest that practical activities in biology are more effective in enhancing student cognitive achievement, science process skills and problem solving abilities than traditional didactic classroom approaches.

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