The effect of laboratory exposure on students’ academic achievement in practically based subjects in secondary schools in Wakiso District.
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Date
2017-09
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University. College of Education, Open and Distance Learning
Abstract
The study on the effect of laboratory exposure on students’ academic achievement in practically
based subjects in secondary schools in Wakiso district. The research is guided by four objectives:
First to examine the influence of exposure to laboratory facilities on students’ performance in
adequately equipped laboratories and to those in inadequately equipped laboratories, Second to
investigate students’ attitude change towards practically based subjects in adequately equipped
laboratories and in to those inadequately equipped laboratories. Third to Examine the frequency
of exposure to laboratory facilities on students on students in adequately equipped laboratories
and those in inadequately equipped laboratories and their performance fourth to Investigate the
efficiency of utilization of existing laboratory facilities by science teachers to enhance teaching
of science subjects. The study was conducted in four secondary schools in Wakiso district. The
study examined the availability of laboratories, examine the use of laboratories, and assess the
availability of science teachers, and science teachers ‘perceptions how laboratories availability
influence students’ performance in science subjects. The problem was that students’ performance
in science subjects is appalling in secondary schools, Survey research design was used and the
study employed quantitative approaches where observation, checklist, school records and likert
scales were used for data collection. In that essence, a sample of 140 students from the classes of
senior three and four students of sound mind were considered from the four schools randomly to
provide the data which was used. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentages and ratio.
Findings revealed that schools did not have laboratories; instead they had science rooms which
lacked laboratory space. It was noted that apparatus and chemicals were either insufficient or
absent in all sampled schools; instead schools improvised those equipment by using locally
available materials in their environment. Experiments were done in large groups with little
students. There was an acute shortage of science teachers. It was recommended that, policy
makers need to ensure that students enrollment should match with the availability of laboratory
facilities, more laboratories need to be built in schools and more science teachers be trained
Description
A dissertation submitted to the college of education, open and long distance learning in partial fulfilment of the award for Bachelor of Science with education of Kampala International University
Keywords
Students’ academic achievement, Laboratory exposure, Wakiso District