EVALUATION OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN BIOLOGY LABORATORY CLASS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Science innovations and their uses in economic, industry, communication, agriculture and medicine have reconstructed the lives, attitude and habit of most mankind during the last century. In this   scientific   and technological   age, no   citizen   can function effectively without basic scientific literacy and elementary skills as health of millions of people in Nigeria depends on medical practitioners who use their knowledge and attitude derived from the study of practical biology to save the lives of people suffering from diseases. Despite the importance of practical oriented subjects, little efforts had been made by researchers to evaluate the problems associated with teachers and student’s perception of practical biology in secondary schools. This study evaluated teachers and student’s perception of problems encountered in practical biology in senior secondary schools in Nigeria. Three hypotheses are formulated and tested in the study. This is a survey research. Fifty teachers and two hundred students are involved in the study. Two instruments: Teachers Problems Perception of Practical Biology Questionnaire and Students Problem Perception of Practical Biology Questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.96 and 0.89 respectively. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05 level of significance. Result revealed a significant difference in the perception of problems encountered in Practical Biology by male and female students ((t=~2.179, df = 198, P<.05) but there was no significant difference between male and female teachers’ perception of problems encountered in practical Biology ((t=0.723, df = 48, P>.05). Moreover, the result shows a significant difference in the perception of problems encountered in practical Biology by both teachers and students (t= 9.052, df = 248; P< 0.05) but no significant relationships between teachers' and students' perception of problems encountered in practical Biology (r=-0.031, P>0.05). It is recommended that each period of Biology class should be doubled to facilitate teaching-learning in theory and practical while seminars and workshop should be regularly organized for teachers to build their capacity