Students Performances In Science Education In Nigeria: A Study Of Selected Secondary Schools In Uhunmwode Local Government Area Of Edo State

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Students Performances In Science Education In Nigeria: A Study Of Selected Secondary Schools In Uhunmwode Local Government Area Of Edo State

Abstract

The primary purposes of this study were to find out the performances of students in science education in Nigeria, a study of selected secondary schools in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State. In the first chapter, the researcher attempted a historical antecedent of science in general as a background to the study. The major objectives include the following;

  1. Availability of facilities that would make the teaching of science meaningful and effective
  2. The number f students assigned to science teachers and their level of passes in examinations
  3. Availability of enough and qualified teachers. To effectively complete the work, the researcher designed two types of questionnaires, one for science teachers and the other for the science students. The researcher also interviewed some science teachers, students and principals.

West African school certificate results of science subjects of 2003 – 2007 were collected from the principals of the schools visited.

The school chapter focuses on relieving related literature of topic. Chapter three is one materials and method of one study. The statistical method employed by the researcher is the simple percentage type. The data collected were analyzed and interpreted by the researcher. In the closing chapter, some recommendations were made by the researcher for improving the performances of students in science subjects both internal and external examination to the appropriate authority.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

The teaching of science principles and concepts are regarded as the vehicle for rigid technological development and scientific innovations. There are other areas where good knowledge of science subject are required, such areas include manufacturing of nuclear power stations, production of medicine and related area such as geophysics.

The role of science in both national and global development of technology cannot be over emphasized and the dynamic re=orientation towards technological and industrial development has become imperative. It is for the purpose a achieving those objectives that the national policy of education emphasized the introduction of broad teaching of science subjects in schools curricula.

However, the prospects of quick realization of these objectives are being threatened as a result of acute shortage of teachers of these subjects in the secondary schools in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State. The situation has been further aggravated by the rapid increase in the number of secondary schools students as well as secondary institution without the corresponding increase in schools. This has consequently affected the quality of science teaching in the secondary schools in local government area. The effective teaching of science in secondary schools ought to be given an apt attention incur school if we are to achieve the desired result.

Furthermore, current development in science and technology has so greatly affected the lives of every human being and to be ignored of the basic ideas of science is to hire in an empty meaningless and probably unrealistic world of science. To be now precise, a nation that is not scientifically inclined cannot be expected to make any reasonable progress whether in politics and economic development or in technological advancement.

It stands to reason that scientific and technological; advancement constitutes the means by which most nations of the world have been classified as developed or underdeveloped.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The teaching of science in secondary schools geared towards making everyone to become more conscience not only of the relevance of science but also of the simplicity of learning it. But this objective hindered the teaching of science in the local government area because of some vital factors that are stated below. Shortage of teachers of science in secondary schools can have several negatives effects on our determined objectives to march forward towards full industrialization, which will bring about national development and a possibility for job opportunities.

The perennial problems of poor staffing and inadequate provision of secondary schools equipment in schools have been the chief cause of poor performance and lack of interest at this level in the local government area. Apart from low provision and staffing problems, the equipment already provided lack maintenance and suffers upgrading thereby, in the local government area of Edo State and elsewhere in this country.

Also, in this local government parental background is looked upon. Majority of the students whose parents are accomplished farmers hardly develop position attitude towards science. These parents though have the money to send their children to school and provide learning materials for them still do not effectively encourage them to study science properly. This is because of their level of illiteracy, which result to low level of performance by the students.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The objectives of the study are;

  1. To ascertain whether teachers qualification determines one extent to which students can perform in learning science
  2. To ascertain the causes of failure in science subjects
  3. To find out whether students perform better in science in the schools having more science teachers than those have few

1.4 Research Hypotheses

The following have been put forward for testing

  1. H0: there are no causes of failure in science subjects
    H1: there are causes of failure in science subjects
  2. H0: Teacher’s qualification do not determines one extent to which students can perform in learning science
    H1: Teacher’s qualification determines one extent to which students can perform in learning science

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study will be particular significance in the following ways;

  1. It will enable the secondary schools teachers who have read the work to know the performance trend in the subjects and then think above the ways of improving his or her teaching especially where performance is on a downward trend.
  2. It will help to alert the government agencies like the ministry of education and the area of Uhunmwonde council in charge of secondary education of the downward trend in performance in the subject especially as the subject is the bedrock for national advancement in science and technology.
  3. It will spur up research interest in other secondary school subjects to know the performance trend in the subjects.
  4. It serves as a way of evaluating performance in the subject especially when this had not been thought necessary by people and the government.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study is intended to investigate one trend of students’ performances in science at examination like the final or seasonal examination. The study will involve six selected secondary schools in local government area in relation of their location. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) Availability of Research Material:

The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) Time:

The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Science:

Is derived from the Latin word scientiig, which means knowledge. Science can be defined as organized knowledge driven from observation.

Education:

Education can be defined as one acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Science Education:

It can be defined as a field concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. It also provides expectations for the development of understanding for student.

Methods of teaching science education Its involves the following ways

  1. Observation
  2. Identification of problem
  3. Statement of problem
  4. Experimentation

1.8 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

  1. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
  2. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
  3. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
  4. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
  5. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain students performances in science education in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of student’s performances in science education in Nigeria

5.2 Summary

This study was on students performances in science education in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain whether teachers qualification determines one extent to which students can perform in learning science, to ascertain the causes of failure in science subjects, to find out whether students perform better in science in the schools having more science teachers than those have few. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected secondary schools Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made principals, vice principals adm, senior staff and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

5.3 Conclusion

The attainment of the goals of science education is largely dependent on the quality of teachers. Therefore there should be quality teacher development. Opportunities to enrich teachers’ practices and competencies through in-service training, conferences, seminars and workshops should be provided on a regular basis to help them keep abreast with recent developments in the field of science and broaden their knowledge of subject matter. There should be proper staffing of schools in terms of quality and quantity. Good practices for effective implementation of inquiry based science education must be identified and properly implemented. There should also be provision of modern teaching –learning resources in terms of quality and quantity as students need a variety of science materials to engage in inquiry-centered science learning. Libraries and laboratories should be provided and well equipped. The school administrators, managers, teachers, laboratory assistants, and students should develop good maintenance culture. If science is properly taught from the lower level, this will lay a sound foundation for science at higher levels.

5.4 Recommendation

  1. Science teachers should utilize innovative practices in their lesson delivery so as to enhance students’ active participation in the lesson for enhanced academic performance.
  2. Intensive in-serve programs should be organized to get the science teachers acquainted with and trained on how to effectively utilize innovative practices in science education.
  3. Science teachers should be allowed to visit schools that are utilizing innovative practices to observe new methods and materials in action.
  4. Science teachers and principals should be encouraged to become more cosmopolitan in approaching teaching techniques.

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