Management of science laboratories in selected Ileje district public secondary schools in Tanzania

This study investigates “Management of Science Laboratories in Tanzania Public Secondary Schools: A Case of Ileje District’’. The study was guided by four objectives: 1) To identify science subjects laboratories available and their level of quality in public secondary schools, 2) To investigate knowledge and skills on laboratory management, operations practiced in public secondary schools, 3) To explore critical challenges which affected management and operations of science subjects’ laboratories and 4) To point out solutions that were being used in schools in eradicating critical problems facing science subjects’ laboratories management and operations. The research design was cross-sectional survey and data collections involved were questionnaire, semi-structured interview, focus group discussion and observations. Research was carried in Ileje district in Mbeya region. The 137 respondents were involved; the district secondary education officer, (DSEO) heads of schools, academic teachers, science teachers, laboratory technician and students taking science subjects. And these were selected through purposive and simple randomly techniques. The major findings were that; majority of respondents had knowledge and skills related to laboratory management and operations despite the fact that only 53% were having pre-service knowledge on laboratory management and operations, 83% of respondents had never attended any in-service training related to laboratory issues. 7 (70%) of the sampled secondary schools performed poorly in Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations (CSEE). The critical reasons for failure were mainly attributed to low investment in teaching and learning facilities such as shortages of chemicals, apparatuses, furniture and science books, also shortage of science teachers and laboratory technicians. The study suggests the completion of laboratories and provision of required teaching learning facilities by government and other stakeholders’ immediately. Increase educational development budget, equal distribution to human resources and other teaching resources related to science subjects’. Lastly science teachers and laboratory technician need to execute effective their knowledge and skills to ensure science students’ are joining more (prefer) and performing better in CSEE.