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By Damiete Braide
Well-equipped laboratories in secondary schools help students get first-hand experience and offer better opportunities for learning.
Some students told The Education Report that it also offers them the opportunity to learn how to gain knowledge, observe and learn the meaning of what happens during practicals.
According to science experts, well-designed laboratories not only make science experiments fun but also help students in achieving good academic results. They also agreed that schools that have spacious and proper laboratories provide better learning opportunities for students.
The Education Report sought the views of students to know if their schools have laboratories and how it has affected their studies.
Lawal Faheem, an SS1 student of LASUTECH International Secondary School, LISS, Sagamu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos said: “My school has well-equipped science laboratories, which are used to carry out scientific experiments. We are allowed to make use of the laboratories under the supervision of our science subject teacher. The availability of laboratories in my school has helped to improve my studies.
Uche Okafor, a student of Noravel International School, Iyana School said: “ Yes, my school has three major laboratories namely, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology laboratories for science students. Our school laboratories are a great place for students and it helps them to enhance their learning and understanding of the theoretical concepts of science, which are taught in classrooms.
“We are allowed to make use of the laboratories whenever we have one practical or the other to do. Although my school has the necessary laboratories we have limited access to them. We are not really allowed to practice what we have been taught when we go to the laboratory when we are less busy,” he stated.
Odunayo Ismail Olojede, an SS1 student of Kings High School, Abule Ado, Lagos, said, “ In my school, we have an equipped science laboratory where we carry out experiments during practical. When we have practicals to do, we are allowed to use the laboratory.
“ I would say that the absence of a laboratory in a school can affect one’s studies because if students are not taught properly during practicals, it will affect them during the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and they will not perform excellently.
“Also, when they gain admission into the university, it will affect their studies, and they may not be able to perform well because they are not well grounded in practical when they were in secondary school.”
Caleb Olufemi, an SS2 student of Athens College, Festac Town, Lagos, disclosed that his school has a well-equipped science laboratory where students carry out experiments and practicals for subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
He added: “Our science laboratory is open to students under the supervision of the teacher or laboratory prefect. The school’s laboratory helps students especially in the practical aspect of science subjects and unlike other schools that do not have a well-equipped laboratory.”
Iyiola Abiloro, an SS1 student of Taidob College, Abeokuta, Ogun State said his school has a well-equipped science laboratory and anytime the students have a topic that requires practical, they go to the laboratory to use it in order to understand the topic more.
According to the student, schools that don’t have a well-equipped laboratory, “will affect their studies because some topics require practical and if such student cannot do the practical, he or she will not have the needed knowledge for that particular topic.
