LEVEL OF AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF SCIENCE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AS PERCIEVED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN BOSSO METROPOLIS,NIGER STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the level of availability and utilization of science laboratory equipment in secondary schools in Bosso Metropolis of Niger State. A research question was raised to guide the study. The research design used for the study was a descriptive survey design. The instrument used for the study was the Avalability and Utilization of Science Laboratory Equipment Questionnaire (AUSLEQ). Reliability of the instrument was determined and reliability coefficient of 0.84 was obtained. One hundred and eighty science students (180) and twenty science teachers (20) totaling two hundred (200) made up the population of the study. The responses of the students and teachers to the instrument were collected and analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The result of this study revealed that, there are no adequate science laboratory equipment for effective teaching and learning of sciences in majority of secondary schools in Bosso metropolis of Niger State. Even the little that are available are not well equipped non effectively utilized by science teachers during teaching and learning process. The study recommends that individual science teachers should improvise as much as possible any equipment that an aid effective teaching and learning of sciences in their schools. Government any and other stake holders in education should properly equip the science laboratories at secondary school level of our education. In addition to the foregoing, Government should employ more science teachers and develop them through capacity training through Workshop Seminars and Conferences.