EFFECT OF CURRICULUM CHANGES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF BIOLOGY IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN ANAMBRA STATE.

Abstract

This study examines the Effect of Curriculum Changes in Teaching and Learning of Biology in Anambra State.A descriptive research approach was employed whereby semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions were used to collect the data.Literature review was carried out according to the variables under study. A Sample of one hundred and twenty respondents (120) was randomly selected through purposive sampling method. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The instrument was validatedby two biology educators and two experts in measurement and evaluation. The reliability estimate of the instrument was established through the splithalf reliability method and its associated spearman-brown prophecy formula.The data generated from the study were analyzed using mean and standard deviation statistical analysis.The findings of the study revealed that curriculum changes should also involve changes in teaching and learning methods in order to measure up with the newly introduced content. Again those changes in school curriculum particularly in biology do not consider the teachers mastery of subject matter and availability of teaching and learning materials. Amongst the recommendation were that educational stakeholders should investigate the types of teaching and learning methods to be used before making a change in the curriculum. Also, Schools should have science subjects’ facilities like laboratories filled with all needed equipment and other related teaching and learning materials to enable STEM education very effective.