Biology Education in Perspective: An Inquiry into Ghanaian Senior High School Students’ Attitude Towards Biology Practical Lessons

Abstract

This study aimed at finding out the attitude of students towards Biology practical lessons in selected Senior High Schools in Ghana. The study adopted the descriptive sample design, involving both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The population of the study comprised 408 students and 24 teachers. The students and teachers were chosen at random from a table of random numbers respectively. Data was collected using informal observation, questionnaire and documents. The questionnaire was made up of both open and close-ended questions. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was the software that was used in processing the quantitative data. The findings of the study revealed that 5% of students from well-endowed schools, as against 40.5% of those from less-endowed schools, indicated that they have poor attitudes towards Biology practical lessons and this was confirmed by their teachers. It was also shown that practical lessons in Biology, in both well-endowed and less-endowed Senior High Schools, were greatly impeded by lack of proper laboratory, lack of laboratory assistants/technicians and inadequacy of practical equipment and materials for practical work. Based on the findings of the study, the government, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and other stakeholders should help in providing the needed resources such as well-equipped laboratories and materials among others to facilitate the teaching and learning of Biology practical in the schools.