The teaching of Earth Sciences (ES) is particularly delicate and seems to be problematic for both learners and Moroccan teachers for multiple reasons. Based on this observation, this study aims at identifying the difficulties related to the teaching of ES by exploring the points of view of the Moroccan teachers toward this field. As an investigative tool, we used a questionnaire and semi-directive interviews with nearly 122 secondary school teachers of Life and Earth Sciences (LES). The results of our survey revealed that the major difficulties that hinder the teaching of natural sciences are mainly related to the teachers’ university studies. Most of them had training in biology as well as in the relationship that the natural sciences maintain within time and space, the limited abstraction capacity of unmotivated learners, and the inadequacy of their prerequisites in these sciences. On the other hand, they were aware of the demotivating geological knowledge taught to the learners and the lack of initial and continuous training for teachers, especially for those who specialized in natural sciences.

The study of learners’ conceptions of geological concepts has been the subject of several studies in the field of earth science didactics. The majority of these studies show that learners have misconceptions that can be an obstacle to learning Earth sciences. The present work aimed to identify the views of second year undergraduate students on plate tectonics to identify some of the barriers to teaching this unifying scientific theory across the different disciplines of the Earth sciences. The data was gathered with questionnaire administered to students in the second year of the Baccalaureate before teaching about plate tectonics. The results of our study confirmed that student learners do indeed have conceptions of plate tectonics and associated phenomena but have great difficulty in mobilizing their knowledge to explain geological phenomena related to plate tectonics. These difficulties may have several origins: the nature of the geological knowledge transposed, and the very limited knowledge of teachers with a bachelor’s degree in Biology.

Teaching and learning earth sciences (ES), notably geology, are conducted across various environments, encompassing the classroom, laboratory, and, most significantly, the field. The field trip is recognized as a key component of practical training and the overall success of the educational process in ES. This paper elucidates the findings of a survey aimed at understanding the challenges faced by Moroccan secondary school teachers of life and earth sciences (LES) in organizing geological field trips. The survey sought to identify the difficulties these teachers encounter and propose potential support mechanisms to mitigate these challenges. The study revealed that teachers often do not arrange geological field trips due to challenges related to administration, personal factors, pedagogy, and didactics. In an effort to address this situation, the study underscores the importance of integrating practical work into teacher training and student education. It also emphasizes the need for the provision of more adequate teaching materials and logistical support to facilitate geological excursions, thereby enriching the appreciation of earth sciences disciplines among both teachers and students. Finally, the establishment of electronic collaboration between local Moroccan universities and secondary schools is recommended as a crucial step towards further improvement.