Assessing the Level of Availability and Utilization of Materials for Teaching Biology in Private and Public Secondary Schools in Delta State

Abstract

The study investigated the level of availability and utilization of biology instructional materials in private and public secondary schools in Delta state. It is ex-post-facto in nature and adopted the descriptive study design. The study population was made up of 138 public and 213 private secondary schools in Delta North senatorial district of the state. A sample size of 100 secondary schools; 50 biology head teachers,  each in public and private secondary schools from five local government areas in Delta North  senatorial district  were selected through stratified random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a checklist. The statistical tools for data analysis were the mean, standard deviation and t-test. The findings revealed that the level of availability and utilization of biology instructional materials was higher in private than in public secondary schools, some teachers use the classroom instead of the laboratories for practical activities and the absence of laboratory technicians in both schools.  Recommendations made were, the government through the state ministry of education should equip biology laboratories to enhance effective teaching of biology and the achievement of national goals in science and technology.