Factors that limit practical work in secondary science education in Lang'ata division in Nairobi west district Kenya

Abstract

The central problem of this study is that despite the critical role of science education in promoting technology development, students' performance in these subjects is quite dismal. Factors leading to this dismal performance have been investigated and found that practical work is lacking or minimal in the teaching of sciences such as Chemistry, Biology and Physics in secondary education. However the cause of limited practical has not been exhaustively studied. The research is therefore aimed at investigating and find out the major cause of limited practical work in secondary science education. Science education is widely recognized as an important element in preparing in the preparation of pupils for life in the modern world. This is important in the industrialization, economic and social goals progress of / the pupils and the country as a whole. The science education currently being given in many schools doesn't meet the demand required due to inadequate practical activities in the science learning and teaching process. Practical activities in science study rouse curiosity, interest and stimulate the pupils to be innovative and so discover new ideas and concepts especially in this era of information technology. This study is therefore aimed at finding out the problems that hinder practical work in the secondary science education in Lang'ata division and is also anticipated to come up with the most possible solution to the problems. The study sampled schools using purposive sampling techniques using the criteria of boarding status, public or private and the type [boys, girls or mix). From each selected category, I targeted three groups i.e. head teachers, subject teachers and students. Among

the specialist group, one head teacher was targeted and three teachers from biology, chemistry and Physics subjects in each school. In total 30 specialists were interviewed. In the consumer category, two students a boy and a girl where possible, were interviewed from every class (Form 2-4) yielding a total of 18 students in the three schools. Care was taken to balance the subjects in the case any of the subjects being optional, in the schools so as to get a fair repfesentation for all the subjects. The entire sampling matrix yielded a total of 48 for the stud), . Data was collected using questionnaires for the student and teachers and interviews schedul;2 for head teachers iii selected schools .Data collected was presented using tables and graphs. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The main technique used to analyze the data was Pearson Moment Correlation techniques.