TEACHERS ATTITUDE AND COMPETENCE IN PRACTICAL SKILL AS CORRELATES OF STUDENTS PERFORMANCE IN BIOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN ONDO STATE

This study focused on investigating how teachers’ attitudes and practical competencies correlate with students' performance in biology in secondary schools across Ondo State. The specific purpose of the study was to: evaluate the impact of teachers' attitudes on the academic performance of biology students in Ondo State, assess how teachers’ competencies in practical skills influence students' biological understanding and performance, determine the self-assessed competence of biology teachers in practical skills and relate this to student performance outcomes. The study adopted descriptive research design of survey type which comprised of all biology teachers in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State and a sample of forty (40) respondents were purposely selected for the study through the use of simple random sampling technique while structured type of questionnaire titled “Teachers Attitude and Competence in Practical Skill as Correlates of Students Performance Questionnaire TACPSCSPQ) was used as the instrument which had two (2) sections and was duly validated. The data collected through the research instruments were analyzed using frequency and simple percentages. A coefficient of 0.8 was established from the reliability which attests to its suitability of the study. The findings revealed that; that the teachers' attitudes towards biology teaching and the academic performance of their students in Ondo State is moderate (X̅= 2.87), that teacher competence in practical skills and students' understanding and performance in biology in secondary schools is high (X̅= 3.28), teachers’ perception of their competence in practical skills strongly correlates with improved students’ academic outcomes in Biology is high (X̅= 3.25). The results also revealed that there is no significant relationship between teachers' attitudes towards biology teaching and the academic performance of students in Ondo State (P= 0.487, r = 0.112) and lastly, the study revealed that there is significant relationship between academic performance and students' interest in biology-related careers (P = 0.184, r = 0.214). Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that teachers should continually nurture and sustain positive attitudes toward Biology teaching by demonstrating enthusiasm regularly updating their instructional methods, and integrating real-life applications into their lessons, Teachers should also place greater emphasis on practical activities by utilizing available laboratory facilities and improvising instructional materials where resources are inadequate, thereby ensuring that students acquire essential scientific process skills that are central to understanding Biology.