Assessment of Laboratory Resources, Teachers’ and Students’ Involvement in Practical Activities in Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools in Osun State Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the availability of laboratory resources, teachers’ and students’ involvement in practical activities in Basic Science in junior secondary schools in Osun State Nigeria. These were with a view to ascertain the availability of laboratory resources in the teaching of Basic Science in junior secondary schools and the involvement of teachers and students to practical activities in the state. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study consisted of all Basic Science teachers, facilities for teaching Basic Science and all junior secondary school II students in Osun State. Ten schools were selected from each senatorial district through simple random sampling technique, from each school, ten students from JSSII were also randomly selected through simple random sampling technique to take part in the study. Basic Science teachers found in the schools were purposively used for the study because of their discipline and numbers. The facilities for the research were also purposively selected based on a must for teacher to use in the course of their teaching. Three instruments were used for data collection. They are: Observation Checklist for Basic Science Laboratory Facilities (OCBSLF), Questionnaire for Teachers on Teachers Involvement in Practical Activities (QTTIPA) and Students’ Questionnaire on Basic Science Laboratory Facilities (SQBSLF). Data collected were analyzed through simple percentages. The results of the study showed that 14(40.0%) schools indicated that beakers, boiling tubes, conical flask and cylinder are available while 21(60.0%) schools indicated that beakers, boiling tubes, conical flask and cylinder are not available, 10(28.6%) schools indicated that flat bottom flasks are available while 25(71.4%) schools indicated they are not available, 11(31.4%) schools indicated that round bottom flasks are available while 24(68.6%) schools indicated they are not available, 8(22.9%) schools indicated that hand lenses are available while 27(77.1%) schools indicated they are not available, 7(20.0%) schools indicated that Ammeters are available while 28(80.0%) schools indicated they are not available, 9(25.7%) schools indicated that Resistance box are available while 26(74.3%) schools indicated they are not available, 3((8.57%) schools indicated that plastic mammalian models (heart ,eye, ear, and skeleton) and First Aid box (fully equipped) 3((8.57%) are available while 32(91.3%) schools indicated that they not available, 1(2.86%) schools indicated that Meter Rule, Rheostats, Connecting wires, Spatula are available while 34(97.4%) schools indicated they are not available. The results of the study showed that on the average teachers did not use laboratory facilities to teach the students and students are rarely involved in practical activities in schools. The study concluded that laboratory resources are not available to teach students Basic Science in junior secondary school level.