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This article focuses on the historical development, current state, and future perspectives of geology education in the Czech Republic. The theoretical part of the article presents analysis of the evolution of the geology curriculum and its position within the Czech educational system. It highlights significant personalities and events in geological sciences and describes the changes in geology education since the 18th century to the present. The empirical part of the article employs qualitative research through focus group interviews to reflect on current approaches to geology education in lower secondary schools (ISCED 2). The respondents included ninth-grade students from primary schools, teacher education students at the Faculty of Science of Charles University, and science teachers. Based on their statements, SWOT analyses were created to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with geology education. Strengths include practical field exercises and field trips that provide students a direct contact with geological materials and demonstrate interdisciplinary connections between geology, chemistry, physics, and geography. Weaknesses involve low student interest, lack of teaching aids, and the complexity of integrating geology into other subjects. Threats include low teacher motivation and inadequate resources in school natural science collections, while opportunities lie in tandem teaching and collaboration with research and educational institutions. The article emphasizes the need to strengthen interdisciplinary connections, increase teacher support and motivation through further education, and improve school collection. Emphasis is also placed on popularizing geology to make it more attractive not only to students but also to the broader public. Overall, it is essential for geology education to respond to current challenges and trends, thus contributing to the formation of comprehensive scientific education that will inspire students to further study and interest in natural sciences.
Fleissig et al. (Tue,) studied this question.