AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF LABORATORY FACILITIES AND BIOLOGY TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF LABORATORY FACILITIES AND BIOLOGY TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examined the availability and utilization of laboratory facilities and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.  The population of this study consisted of all the Biology teachers in all the public secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area. A simple random sampling technique was used to select nine (9) Biology teachers from the nine (9) secondary schools in the study area.

Two research questions were formulated in line with specific objectives to guide the study a direction. The main instrument for data collection was checklist titled “Biology Laboratory Facilities Checklist (BLFC). The data generated from study were analyzed using frequency and simple percentage. The result from the finding revealed that laboratory facilities were not adequately available to be used by the teachers in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools.

Also, it was found that the few laboratory facilities were fully utilized by the teachers in the teaching of science (Biology) in secondary schools. It was recommended among others that government and all other stakeholders of education should as a matter of priority make available these facilities in the schools.

AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF LABORATORY FACILITIES AND BIOLOGY TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the study

Education is the greatest tool for the development of any nation, the major objectives of sending our children to school is to help hem learn some basic concept, skills, knowledge and beliefs necessary for the development of some specific goals. Costalidi (2007) observed that in every level of schooling whether at the primary, secondary or tertiary level of education, there are basic facilities which make it possible for the school to attain her desire goals.

Science is doing and involves regular hands-on practical work for learners to develop scientific literacy to face global challenges. Biology being a national science can be studied both indoor and outdoor as most biological specimen are plants and animals which abound in the environment. However, some laboratory facilities may not be found outside the laboratories such as reagents, hence the need to have a well stocked laboratory with available and adequate facilities. For science teachers to play their roles in teaching Biology (Science), laboratory facilities should be available and used appropriately to improve the performance of students (Imogie, 2010).

According to Umeodurgy (2006), the process of managing organizing and making use of laboratory facility is called laboratory facilities utilization. The availability and utilization of Biology laboratory facility in teaching brings about fruitful learning, since it stimulates students’ sense as well as motivates them.  There are varieties of laboratory facilities which Biology teachers readily use to enrich learning, some of these facilities are models, preserved specimens of plants and animals, scissors, Petri-dish. Bunsen Bruner, Basins, Breakers, Hand lens, caver boards, dissecting kits etc. these facilities should be provided in quantity and quality in Biology laboratory for effective teaching and learning process.

The most effective vehicle by which the process of inquiry can be learned appears to be laboratory or a field setting where the students experience the inquiry process. Laboratory studies have also been demonstrated to be an effective means of comprehensive and application of Biology knowledge. Chukwu and Eule (2007) were of the opinion that the global change in science curriculum demands a qualitative science teaching. In view of this, importance of availability and utilization of Biology facilities cannot be over emphasized. Nwacha (2010) insisted that human and materials facilities are very important in effective teaching and learning of Biology (Sciences).

It would be pertinent to suggest that teaching approach that focuses on the theoretical aspect of a lesson alone is not the best as much as science teaching and learning is concern. It kills the interest of the students in the subject and also hinders effective understanding of the lesson. But where laboratory facilities are available, a qualified and motivated teacher will deploy the method that centers on the students such approach makes learning more concrete and real (Hofstein, 2012).

In view of this, the governments, teachers, principals, school management and education planners should endeavour to provide adequate laboratory facilities in their schools and also qualified teachers who will utilize these facilities in their cause of teaching. The utilization of laboratory facilities in the teaching and learning of Biology contribute immensely and hence promote teaching and learning of Biology in school.

Benedict (2014) showed that utilization of laboratory facilities has a significant relationship in the learning of science. Brewton (2008) analyzed the effect of utilization of laboratory facilities in the learning of science and discovered that the teaching of science concepts is more effective and meaningful when laboratory facilities are well utilized during science teaching. The availability and utilization of resources (laboratory facilities) in education brings about fruitful learning outcomes since facilities stimulate students learning as well as motivation them.

AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF LABORATORY FACILITIES AND BIOLOGY TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.2   Statement of the problem  

Learning of Biology needs to be simplified, comprehensive and concrete. Extensive use of Biology laboratory facilities make Biology learning interesting, stimulating and understandable to the learners. Students’ poor performance in Biology especially at Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) level has become a source of concern to all stakeholders in education in the country and Abak Local Government Area in particular (Imogie, 2010).

One of the major reasons for this anomaly is the lack of or inappropriate application of laboratory facilities in the teaching and learning of Biology by secondary school teachers and students. Also, inspite of the importance of laboratory facilities to the teaching and learning process, it is observed that most of these facilities are unavailable and even the available ones are under utilized.

It is on the strength of this that the researcher deems  it necessary to examine the availability and utilization of laboratory facilities and Biology teaching  in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.

1.3   Purpose of the study    

The general purpose of this study was to examine the availability and utilization of laboratory facilities and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area. Specifically, the study sought to:

• Examine the event of availability of laboratory facilities in the teaching of Biology in Abak Local Government Area.
• Assess the event of utilization of laboratory facilities in the teaching of Biology in Abak Local Government Area.

1.4   Significance of the study

Findings from this study will be immense benefit to students, teachers, curriculum planners, Ministry of Education and the society at large.

To the students, this study will bring to their notice, the importance of laboratory facilities in the learning of Biology. The effective use of this facilities will enable the students learn and retain what they learnt and thereby advancing their performance.

This study will also provide the teachers with interesting and completely platform through improvisation as such they will be able to use appropriate laboratory facilities to supplement their teaching thereby enhancing students’ innovative and creative thinking as well as promoting meaningful communication during the lesson.

This findings shall reveal to the curriculum planners that, Biology contents must not only focus on behavioural objectives but also appropriate laboratory facilities should be involves when planning Biology curriculum as well as promoting the strategies competence in using laboratory facilities.

The findings from the study will encourage the ministry of education and government to make provisions for quality laboratory facilities in schools and also employ qualified science teachers who will effectively utilize the facility in their cause of teaching. To the society at large, this study will solidify teachers teaching with laboratory facilities and sure effective learning on the parts of the learners (students) thereby making the student to be good citizens reflecting positively on the society.

Generally, this study will contribute to the knowledge of further researcher in the research field by serving as a reference material for the teaching and teaching of Biology.

1.5   Research Questions 

The following research questions were raised to guide the study:

• What is the extent of availability of laboratory facilities in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools?
• What is the extent of utilization of laboratory facilities in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools?

1.6   Limitation of the study

The study was faced with a number of difficulties; the researcher had difficulties on how to administer the instrument. Some of these difficulties were as a result of distance, poor road network, financial constraints, as well as other logistic on the research area.

1.7   Delimitation of the study  

This study was delimited to availability and utilization of laboratory facilities and Biology learning in secondary schools was also delimited to few selected secondary schools in the area.

1.8   Operational Definition of Terms

To avoid ambiguity in the use of terms, the following terms used in this study were conceptualized.

Availability:  This means the quality of being available and accessible for uses.

Utilization: This is the manner in which something is used or utilized.

Laboratory: Laboratory is a room or building used for scientific research and equipment.

Facilities: Facilities is something designed, built, installed to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service.

Learning: This is a study of life or living matter. It is a care subject required for medical sciences, biotechnology, pharmacy, microbiology, agriculture, oceanography to mention but a few.