SCHOOL VARIABLES AND TEACHING OF BIOLOGY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
ABSTRACT: This study on School Variables and the Teaching of Biology in Secondary Schools was carried out in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Three research questions were raised to direct the study. A survey research design was adopted. The population of the study consisted of all Biology teachers in all public secondary schools in the Local Government Area. A purposive sampling technique was used to obtain 14 Biology teachers for the study. The study utilized a structured questionnaire titled “School Variables and Biology Teaching Questionnaire (SVBTQ). Data collected from the respondents were analyzed using simple percentage statistic. Findings of the study revealed that there is an influence of classroom variables (school location, instructional materials and class size) on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that, schools should be made conducive for the teachers so as to increase their effectiveness in teaching. The study concluded that school variables influence the effectiveness of the teachers.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
It is a fact that what happens in school environment affects the teaching and learning process. However, there are three essential factors that are associated with formal learning in the school, these are the learners, the teachers and the learning environment. These factors are equally important though school environment seems to exert much effect on the process of teaching and learning. This is because what happens in the school environment can make or mar the teaching effectiveness of teachers and t he learner’s learning potentials.
School variables according to Ajayi (2011) is the school’s physical surrounding which includes the classrooms, school management, teaching materials, buildings and school type. They are variables that affect the teaching of Biology in secondary schools either positively or negatively.
Hence, the school factors remain an important area that should be studied and well-managed to enhance the effect teaching of Biology in secondary schools. George (2010), added that the extent to which students learn could depend on the location of the school, structure of their classrooms, availability of instructional facilities and accessories.
It is seen that there is a positive relationship between the types of buildings and other structures, general environment conditions and the facilities in the school. It is the belief of most parents that, if the building and other facilities are well-kept and decorated, the same level of care and seriousness is likely to be passed on to the academic activities of the institution. This assertion confirms the popular adage in the Holy Bible that says “by their fruits ye shall know them”. Thus, by the external features of the school, the quality of academic programmes of the institution could be assessed reasonably.
SCHOOL VARIABLES AND TEACHING OF BIOLOGY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Archibong (2011) opined that more importance should be attached to the impact of good and workable school building, equipment, facilities, educational process and the educational methodology applied within the school system. With the fast growing population of Nigeria, especially with the introduction of the Universal Basic Education (UBE), there is more pressure on government for the provision of adequate and quality buildings, and physical facilities which are essential for effective teaching and learning process.
Ajayi (2011), suggested that the condition of limited financial resources of Nigeria and the increasing demand by all segments of the society for the provision of infrastructures and social amenities for improved standard of living of our people calls for an effective plan/administrative policy. It is equally important that the sound school plan maintenance culture be inculcated into the system. The society is not static and new political, social and educational demands are continually being imposed on the schools by world of the day. These demands affect school curriculum, which in turn will create the need for the modernization of school building space, equipment, facilities including teaching aids to be able to keep pace with time. In this world of computer and high level of communication technology, the school plan has to provide for it quantitatively and qualitatively.
The school is part of the larger environment for teaching which includes the home, the community and the society at large. Hence, the effect of school factors such as school location, instructional facilities and the class size on the teaching and learning of Biology cannot be over-emphasized. It is in this light that the study “School variables and the teaching of Biology among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area becomes necessary.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The issue of school variables and the teaching of Biology in secondary schools has generated much concern among teachers, parents, researchers and the government at large. School variables and the ineffective teaching of Biology in secondary schools have kept on tasking the already inadequate human and material resources in schools. In fact, the state of ineffective teaching and learning process in our secondary schools has become worrisome. Worried by the downward trend in the level of influence of school variables on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools, key partners have made concerted effort to remedy the situation, yet no significant improvement had been recorded.
School variables and teaching of Biology in secondary schools have been a subject of controversy. Many of the researches conducted researches to examine the effects of school variables on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in the area of school location, institutional facilities, teaching strategies, class size etc.
SCHOOL VARIABLES AND TEACHING OF BIOLOGY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
However, as seen, not much research effort has been made along the line of school variables; it is therefore against this background, that this study “School variables and teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State” becomes imperative.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of school variables on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
In specific terms, the study will accomplish the following objectives:
- To examine the influence of school location on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
- To examine the influence of school instructional facilities on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
- To examine the influence of class size on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
Originally posted on June 4, 2021 @ 10:33 am
