CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The attitude towards physics in secondary schools in Nigeria is unsatisfactory sequel to the wrong perception that the subject is difficult to assimilate, inspite of the benefit student stand to gain by learning physics most student nonchalantly chose to study other subjects in place of physic (Okoh, 2002). Students attitude towards physics to a large extent have an impact on their interest in leaning physics. As such Cupdag(1989) opined that the attitude of students reveals their level of learning toward a particular subject, thus, makes them enthusiastic to learn than those who have unfavorable attitude towards its. In this regard, Cheng (2004), in a study conducted regarding students learning in physics, found out that in the students evaluation, consistent with their notion that physics is complex to learn have unfavorable attitude towards learning it. This also have a negative consequence on teaching the subject, because the negative perception of students becomes a barrier to teaching and learning.
Furthermore, Edward (2006) asserts that research in a similar area which was targeted at assessing students’ beliefs and perception about the nature of physics learning and evaluation of teaching practices that would help students develop more expert-like beliefs and positive attitude; observed that inspite of the benefit the student would derive from learning physics their perception about physics being a diicult subject cannot be easily changed thus aecting the teaching and learning of the subject in secondary schools in Nigeria. However, Torres (1997) opined that in present time, the emphasis on science teaching has shied from teaching of science as a body of established knowledge towards science as a human activity. Instead of teaching students to think critically and independently; science teaching to a large extent, has taught students to accept scientific knowledge without questions, learn existing theories and present alternative explanations.
As such, physics as a dynamic branch of science is difficult to describe, thus, in learning physics, this should not be taught as a series of formulas to be memorized and applied just for “cultural” purposes but be taught as a dynamic branch of science which should provide questions and explanations on how the world works (Jense, 1995). It is against this background that the researchers sees the subject matter of this research “problem and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary school level” as an issue worthy of investigation.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A lot of studies shows the poor performance of students in physics this is attributed to the notion that physics is complex to learn thus making students to develop an unfavorable altitude towards learning the subject. On the part of teachers, physics is taught as a series of formulas to be memorized and applied just for the sake of learning as against teaching students to think critically and independently instead of accepting such knowledge without questions. This issue has become a serious concern to education planners and policy makers in Nigeria. As such the subject matter of this research is considered an empirical problem worthy of investigation.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The present study is to determine the problem and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary school level, with a searchlight at federal government college Malali Kaduna, Kaduna state.
