Abstract

The study is designed to find out the availability and utilization of laboratory facilities and their implication in the performance of students in Biology in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Zaria metropolis of Kaduna state. Random sampling technique was used to select 5 senior secondary schools from the 12 government senior secondary schools in the study area. The sample comprised 400 students selected from 5,423 students and all 16 science teachers of the selected schools. The study adopts the survey design. The instrument for the study tagged Secondary School Laboratory Facilities Questionnaire for Teachers and Students (SSLFQT and SSLFQS) were constructed by the researchers. The instrument was considered to be standard, valid and reliable. The research questions were answered by the statistical mean while the hypotheses were analyzed using the chi square and its cross tabulation statistics. The findings of the study revealed inadequate availability and utilization of laboratory facilities in the senior secondary schools. Inadequate laboratory facilities affect meaningful teaching and learning in schools and hindrance to academic performance and hence the significant relationship between the laboratory facilities and the performance of students in Biology in the SSCE as revealed by the findings. It was recommended among others that the laboratories in the senior secondary schools should be equipped by the government in conjunction with the stakeholders and the teachers adequately trained on the effective utilization of the facilities through in-house training for enriching tomorrow.

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