Changes in interest in school science among secondary school students in Mauritius

Abstract For decades, low enrolment in science subjects at the secondary level, once these subjects become optional, has been a significant issue for many countries, including Mauritius. Mauritius has slowly transitioned from a monocrop economy to a more diversified economy relying more on science- and technology-dependent fields. This shift requires adequate human capital in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas. This study aims to determine changes in secondary school students’ interest in science and to identify the factors, in the Mauritian context, influencing choice of pursuing science beyond the compulsory stage. Two research questions were formulated: ‘How does interest in science change from grade 7 to grade 9 in Mauritius?’ and ‘What are the factors that influence the choice of science subjects at grade 9?’. Returns from a first questionnaire on ‘Interest in science’ were obtained from 1233 students across grades 7, 8 and 9, and returns from a second one on ‘Factors impacting on choice of science subjects’ were obtained from 827 students across grades 9 and 10. The findings clearly show a decline in interest as students’ age increases. The factors that most influence whether science subjects are chosen are student agency and family income.