Investigating the adequacy of physics textbooks used in Nigeria secondary schools for conceptual understanding with new physics curriculum in view

Abstract

This study investigated the adequacy of the physics textbooks in use in Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria using Owerri municipal as case study. Five research questions guided the study. The sampled textual materials were the three recommended physics textbooks. Twenty six physics teachers from ten public secondary schools in Owerri municipal, Imo State were used. The evaluation of these text books were carried out using the 8 – point quantitative approach to content evaluation of science text books (QACEST) and teacher’s perception rating scales (TPRS). The 8 – point QACEST was used to answer research questions 1 to 4 while research question 5 was answered using teacher’s perception rating scale The result  revealed that while all the text books were adequate in terms of content and study questions inadequacies exist in some of the texts in the areas of learning activities, illustrations and teacher’s perception. This simply implies that no single text books have completely met the requirements of the new physics curriculum. However, teachers should not adhere to a particular text book but rather should expose their student to a variety of text books depending on the goal or aim of the lessons.

Keywords: Investigating, Adequacy, Text book, conceptual understanding