APPRAISING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS UTILIZATION IN THE COURSE OF SCIENCE TEACHING IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZAMFARA STATE

Abstract

The paper examined the rate at which instructional material is been put to use in science teaching in secondary schools in Nigeria. The paper looked at the meaning of instructional material, it utilization, some common science instructional material were also looked at, the role play by instructional material in Science teaching were also discussed. The paper looked at some major problems of science teaching as resources problems, teachers’ problems which include lack of adequate professionally trained physics teachers, students’ problems which include poor students’ background in science and negative attitude of students towards science and government/stakeholders’ problems which include poor remuneration/incentive of the science teachers, there is no effective supervision, inadequate instructional materials .The resultant effects are increased in massive failure of science students in senior school certificate examination and negative attitude towards science. The paper therefore concludes that concern on science teaching should be judged to the extent by which the importance of science teaching is well understood by the stakeholders and the entire populace in our country. Some of the recommendations highlighted include prompt and proper remuneration of science teachers, provision of adequate instructional materials by the government /stakeholders and that governments should be organizing conferences and workshops with aims to enlightening teacher and general public on importance of science well as effective teaching of science in secondary schools.