Availability, Adequacy, Utilization and Provision of School Laboratory Equipment for Teaching Agricultural Science in Senior Secondary Schools in Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the availability, adequacy, utilization and provision of agricultural science laboratory equipment in senior secondary schools in Gombe state. The design of the study was a survey. A sample of 140, comprised of 75 and 65 Agricultural science teachers and school principals, respectively, was drawn from a population of 290. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire of 50 items on a four point rating scale, validated, in terms of especially appropriateness of response options and arrangement, by three experts, In order to determine the reliability of the instrument, it was trial tested on 20 teachers and principals in Bauchi State, the reliability coefficient obtained was 0.89 using Cronbach Alpha.  Three research questions were posed, while, two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data collected were analysed using spss. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that laboratory equipment are available and inadequate, there were underutilisation and poor provision of laboratory equipment for teaching Agricultural Science in Gombe State secondary schools. The study concluded by recommending that the available laboratory equipment should be fully utilised in teaching and learning of Agricultural science; laboratories should be adequately equipped to meet the WASSCE guidelines among others.