Influence of Laboratory Technicians Characteristics on Support to Science Teaching in Secondary Schools in Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The influence of academic qualification, age, gender and years of experience of laboratory technicians on the support they provide to science teaching in secondary schools in Uyo Senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, was investigated using questionnaire to collect data from eighty (80) science laboratory technicians out of the 125 posted to public secondary schools within the study area. With a calculated F ratio of 6.297 at 2 and 77 degrees of freedom being greater than the table value of 3.07, educational qualification of technicians significantly influenced their support to teaching of science subjects. A calculated F ratio of 2.061 at 3 and 76 degrees of freedom being less than the table value of 2.68 at 0.05 degrees of freedom, age of laboratory technicians was found not to significantly influence support to science teaching. An F ratio of 3.393 obtained at 2 and 77 degrees of freedom and 0.05 level of significance, made the years of working experience of the technicians to significantly influence their support to science teaching. With a calculated t-value of 0.089 being less than the table value of 1.660 at 78 degrees of freedom, gender of laboratory technicians was found not to significantly influence their support to science teaching. Young and newly employed science laboratory technicians should be encouraged to obtain higher qualification and motivated to stay to increase their efficiency.