Exploring the Status and the Utulisation of Biology Laboratories in a Secondary School in Namibia

As STEM agendas continues to rise, well-equipped functioning science laboratories are essential resource inputs for teaching and learning science and subsequently realizing the STEM agendas. This study is part of a series of projects driven by the continuous poor performance in Biology Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) paper 3; which is a practical oriented paper. In particular this study aimed at exploring the use of Biology Laboratories in Namibia Secondary Schools mainly to understand the utilization of laboratory facilities, as well as its implication on the performance of learners in final examination. The study employed quantitative research approach through survey research design. The data was collected from questionnaires that were completed by 104 randomly sampled participants which included the Biology learners, the two school Biology teachers, a principal and a HoD of science education. The questionnaires were triangulated through lessons non participant observation. The study finds a low extended usage of laboratories facilitates contributed by lack of chemicals and apparatus required for effective practicals. Biology practical works in secondary schools did not follow the learning objectives outlined in the prescribed national Biology syllabus as a result some practical topics which required practical works were taught theoretically. While the study finds the use of labs is a worthy aim, the pressure to improvise for the shortages of apparatus is unbearable for the teachers. The inadequate laboratory facilities will continue to hinder meaningful teaching and learning in secondary schools and subsequently catalyze the persistent poor performance of students if the government does not intervene.