On the Role of Chemistry in Selected Integrated Science Curricula in Other Countries as an Inspiration for Czech Lower Secondary Education

Abstract

This study analyzes integrated science curricula in European and international contexts in response to the reform of the lower secondary education curriculum in the Czech Republic at the end of 2024, which introduced the possibility of integrating science subjects into a single educational unit. The study aimed to identify the chemistry topics and expected learning outcomes included in these curricula and to compare them with the revised Czech Framework Education Programme for Basic Education. The analysis revealed that foreign integrated curricula emphasize chemistry topics such as chemical reactions, atomic structure, chemical substances, and mixtures. Most of the chemistry content covered in the analyzed selected European curricula is covered in the Czech chemistry curriculum, too, except for some specific topics (e.g., biotechnology, emissions, or the safe transport of chemicals), which can be addressed within other themes. The findings suggest that the revised Czech chemistry curriculum offers a solid foundation for developing integrated school curricula inspired by international models. This study thus contributes to the ongoing discussion on the possibilities and limitations of integrating science education in the Czech context.