ABSTRACT

The study examines problems and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary school level with reference to federal government college Malali Kaduna. A survey method was used for the study, the population consisted of all the male and female teacher of federal government college Malali Kaduna out of 65 academic staff, 35 were involved in the study. A questionnaire developed by the researchers based on likert 5 –point scale was used for the study mean scores and frequencies were used to analyze the data based on the research questions. Research result show that the prospect of teaching and learning physics lies on the modification and improvement of the traditional lecture method used in teaching. The study also identified negative attitude of students in secondary school level towards learning physics as a factor that affect their ability to learn the subject furthermore, the teaching techniques applicable in teaching physics is secondary school are the traditional lecture method used from time-immemorial, lecture-demonstration technique and cooperative group teaching technique, the problem militating against teaching and learning of physics in secondary school level include unavailability of qualified teachers, teachers lack of competencies, constraint of complex scientific language used in teaching physics in secondary school level, lack of modern laboratory apparatus as well as lack of effective teaching techniques and inconsistency in government policies.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The attitude towards physics in secondary schools in Nigeria is unsatisfactory sequel to the wrong perception that the subject is difficult to assimilate, inspite of the benefit student stand to gain by learning physics most student nonchalantly chose to study other subjects in place of physic (Okoh, 2002). Students attitude towards physics to a large extent have an impact on their interest in leaning physics. As such Cupdag(1989) opined that the attitude of students reveals their level of learning toward a particular subject, thus, makes them enthusiastic to learn than those who have unfavorable attitude towards its. In this regard, Cheng (2004), in a study conducted regarding students learning in physics, found out that in the students evaluation, consistent with their notion that physics is complex to learn have unfavorable attitude towards learning it. This also have a negative consequence on teaching the subject, because the negative perception of students becomes a barrier to teaching and learning.

Furthermore, Edward (2006) asserts that research in a similar area which was targeted at assessing students’ beliefs and perception about the nature of physics learning and evaluation of teaching practices that would help students develop more expert-like beliefs and positive attitude; observed that inspite of the benefit the student would derive from learning physics their perception about physics being a difficult subject cannot be easily changed thus affecting the teaching and learning of the subject in secondary schools in Nigeria. However, Torres (1997) opined that in present time, the emphasis on science teaching has shied from teaching of science as a body of established knowledge towards science as a human activity. Instead of teaching students to think critically and independently; science teaching to a large extent, has taught students to accept scientific knowledge without questions, learn existing theories and present alternative explanations. As such, physics as a dynamic branch of science is difficult to describe, thus, in learning physics, this should not be taught as a series of formulas to be memorized and applied just for “cultural” purposes but be taught as a dynamic branch of science which should provide questions and explanations on how the world works (Jense, 1995). It is against this background that the researchers sees the subject matter of this research “problem and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary school level” as an issue worthy of investigation.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

A lot of studies shows the poor performance of students in physics this is attributed to the notion that physics is complex to learn thus making students to develop an unfavorable altitude towards learning the subject. On the part of teachers, physics is taught as a series of formulas to be memorized and applied just for the sake of learning as against teaching students to think critically and independently instead of accepting such knowledge without questions. This issue has become a serious concern to education planners and policy makers in Nigeria. As such the subject matter of this research is considered an empirical problem worthy of investigation.