CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The art of knowing as human activity is more or less synonyms with research and constitute an integrated part of a modern way of life in which research is the daily task by specialized individuals alone or group usually in laboratories. Bearing this in mind, the study will take a critical look at the attitude of girls towards the study of science in Egor Local Government Area in Edo State.
It is generally recognized that the level of socio-economic development of the nation is directly related to the extent of scientific and technological advancement in the country. Similarly, the level of general well being and security endowed by the population is the result of the collective scientific and technological inventions or activities going on among the people. Fafunwa a great educationist who contributed a lot to the field of science education made an important statement (1968) that in world today, science and technology have become a predominant cultural factor and any nation that is not alike to it is diseased or drifting. In other words to advance technologically and economically could be achieved through the teaching of science in our schools.
Scientific knowledge is continually being defined through research-based scientific methods, which entails rational theory. Science is that aspect of knowledge that comes to play a vital role in our daily activities or indirectly finds it explanation in the field of science. Almost every area of study needs that knowledge of science, doctors, engineer, farmers, tailors, carpenters, housewives, and technologist and as on find science inevitable. Fafunwa (2000) speaking on the premature specialization in science education as a disservice to developing nations has this to say on the inevitable nature of science in optional development.
But it is almost impossible today to live a fully and satisfactory life with little or no knowledge of science. We of the under developed resource to solve our economic problems we need to improve our diets, transport system and develop our minerals and control soil erosion we must introduce modern scientific farming, control cattle disease, improve our health programmes and solve other problems that call for scientific that technological dexterity. He further said that to achieve the above goals we must aim at developing the attitude and behaviour considered desirable of society. He also opined that as far as science is considered, it is the attitude that matters. It is not alarming therefore the serious involvement and concern shown by different scientific groups and association of different subjects teachers and even students on the problems of encouraging performances in mathematics and other science subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, agricultural science just to mention a few such problems or course will have a great influence on the attitude of people within the environment. A girl could take to any trade or profession depending on these factors.
The studying of science subjects requires certain abilities for the technical language and analytical process involved in science. If this is the case, then the researcher could consider it very necessary to conclude a thorough investigation into the various attitudes of girls in particular and students in general into scientific operations. Again, people had another opinion towards the study of science in secondary school. There is the claim that boys are more scientifically inclined than girls and some of these people have attributed this view of female’s scientist these background and school facilities. More interesting is the fact that some even says that whichever attitude they held is influenced by sex and sex has a lot to do with their scientific experience behaviour etc. it is however, pertinent to say that the interest of the researcher was stimulated by teaching practice exercise in Golden Touch High School in Egor Local Government Area in Edo State. It was found that one of the recommended complaints by a senior science teacher was the relative lack of interest shown by girls in science which they thought rightly belong to the area of masculine studies.
It is on this basis that researcher has undertaken to work in selected secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area in Edo State. The researcher hopes that her contribution will be helpful to education board, principals, teachers and students in planning and execution of programmes in education towards the improvement and teaching of science subjects.