INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE TEACHERS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE TEACHING SCIENCE SUBJECTS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Attitude can be viewed as a response that could be positive or negative to any situation, event or object. An individual’s attitude is based on three components: cognitive, affective, and behavioural; hence, the role of the attitude of science teachers’ in attracting students, and sustaining the interest in the science subjects at the senior secondary school is of utmost important. The objective of this study was to assess science teachers’ attitude towards science teaching in senior secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. It was a descriptive research of the survey type in which simple random sampling technique was used to select 180 science teachers. A questionnaire instrument adapted from Patchaivaziamman and Krishnamurthy (2010) was used for the data collection. A reliability index of 0.89 was obtained by the test-retest method using Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient. The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages, t-test. These were used to answer the research questions and also test the hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that science teachers generally had positive attitude towards science teaching (t= 13.00 at p < 0.05). Based on the findings of this study it is hereby recommended that; the science teachers should regularly develop positive attitude towards the teaching of science subject since they are the role model. They should be well catered for by paying their salaries and allowance on time. They should be encouraged to motivate others in science teaching. Others science teachers should seek for knowledge in other areas to update their own area for the better performance of the students. Both male and female science teachers should be given equal exposure and opportunities for science teaching.