TEACHER’S PERCEPTION ON THE AVAILABILITY AND USAGE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE TEACHING OF BIOLOGY

ABSTRACT

The study Teacher's Perception on the availability and usage of instructional materials in the teaching of Biology in Oredo Local Government Area was designed examine the availability and extent of utilization of instructional materials in teaching of Biology topics. Research questions formulated for the study includes; (i) What is the Teacher's perception on the availability of instructional materials for the teaching of biology? (ii) Do biology teachers use these instructional materials for teaching in biology class? This study covered 13 public secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area in Edo state and on a whole, 111 teachers were selected for the study. A 27-item questionnaire was used to gather response the population. The questionnaires were coded and analyzed. Also descriptive statistics were used to present the findings. Key findings from the study revealed that many public secondary school are deficient in the availability of instructional materials. Although most schools have a laboratory but lack instructional materials for teaching Biology topics. The deduction from this study shows that teachers have a positive perception towards the use of instructional materials in teaching of biology but the utilization of these instructional materials is handicapped due to low level of provision of these instructional materials by the government hence leaving them to improvise more often. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made of which the prominent is that the state government should endeavour to provide a well furnished laboratory in all public schools in order to enhance the desired sustainable development needed in the State.