Role Expectations And Performances Of Laboratory Assistants In Secondary School

INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The term science conveys different meaning to different people. To the lay man, science is understood and seen as everything that has made life more comfortable. Science is also viewed as a body of accumulated facts, it is the study of living and non-living things into which school subjects like Biology, Chemistry and Physics can be grouped.
According to Bajah, science is the systematic study of nature through hypothesis, experiments, observations, careful reasoning, making valid conclusions and inferences on the bases of analysis. So the role of science in our present society cannot be overemphasized and it is paramount to indicate that science cannot function properly without the personnel’s needed to assist the product of science to our various offices and places where it is needed.
Abdullahi (2001) defined science in terms of its utility value, probably due to the availability of the products of science such as automobile, computer, radio, television, pressure, cooker, camera, washing machine, and scientific gadgets in homes, offices, workshops, hospitals and schools. However, science is not gadgetry; it is much more than that.
The term laboratory according to (www.calmis.cagov/fil/
occghuide/labtech.htm2002) is a place equipped for the performances of tests, experiments and investigative procedure and for the preparation of reagents. While laboratory assistant is a person with a basic knowledge relating to scientific facilities to be able to render services in support of the science teacher and imparting knowledge and skills to the students.
Role expectations and performances of laboratory assistants in our secondary schools are geared towards evaluating the performances of laboratory assistants in our secondary schools. The performances of laboratory assistants largely depend on the qualification, competencies and the laboratory assistants knowledge of the role expected of them, hence there is need for evaluating the role expectation and performance of secondary school laboratory assistants in Enugu Education Zone. The qualification of individuals denotes the form of employment/work to be assigned to them. The person’s performance requires adequate knowledge of what he is expected to do in order to bring about maximum efficiently in an enterprise.
A laboratory assistant once labeled reagent bottles wrongly leading to the students using the wrong reagents for practical work and hence getting wrong results that lead to their failure in the subject. This spursed the researchers into writing this project one THE ROLE OF LABORATORY ASSISTANTS, ITS EXPECTATIONS AND PERFORMANCES. Work involvement in places like science laboratory is seen as a delicate work that need careful handling which means; the management of laboratory needs if not an expert, then a personnel that have experience in laboratory management because of the breakable equipments like the test tubes, crucible, pipettes etc. that need to be handled carefully. There are three main science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Biology they help in producing well refined future scientists. Therefore, our secondary school laboratories need to be evaluated to ascertain the extent to which the use of laboratory instruction affects the students. Students’ performance in practicals in the above discipline is very poor despite the government’s efforts to provide the necessary practical materials for science.
Science has profound impart in our daily life. It covers the broad knowledge that deals with observable facts and has relationship among these facts. Science has numerous influence on our life. It provide basis for modern technology. The tools, materials, techniques and services of power that make our lives and work easier. Modern science and technology have changed our lives in many ways; aeroplanes, cars, communication, satellites, computers, plastic and televisions are only but a few of scientific and technological inventions that have transformed human lives. Science as a course of study needs to be handled by professional both in the area of teaching and in maintaining the laboratory materials provided for practicals. Moreso, it is pertinent to know the common tasks a laboratory assistant is likely to perform. According to http://www.calms.ca.gov/fiel/occguide/labtech.htm2002, a laboratory assistant should be able to do the following.
– Set up laboratory and field equipments to assist research workers.
– Clean, sterilize, and maintain laboratory equipment and work areas.
– Collect specimens from appropriate source.
– Prepare samples for testing and analysis
– Operate laboratory equipment common to laboratories such as microscopes, spectrophotometers and autoanalyzes.
– Weigh, analyze, and measure ingredients used in testing.
– Calibrate microscopes
– Record and compile tests results
– Enter test results into computerized databases and/or data entry books.
– Prepare charts, graphs, spreadsheets, chromatograms, and reports using a variety of software.
– Performing laboratory tests in order to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific investigations.
– Ensuring the laboratory is well-stocked and resourced.
– Demonstrating practical procedures if working in education, conducting searches on identified topics relevant to the research, from (www.prospects.ac.uk/scientific-laboratorytechnicianjob-description.htm).
Performing these significant functions as a laboratory assistant will uplift our laboratories and mark a fundamental change to secondary school laboratories in Enugu education zone.
In view of this therefore, there is need for use to critically examine the role expected of those working as laboratory assistants for not performing the duties like learning of science in the laboratory, equipment selection, information gathering, information organization, critical thinking and solution appraisal. (i.e.) Observing and evaluating.

Statement of the Problem
Students perform poorly in science practicals leading to their failure in examination. (Benard 2010) most students cannot name some of the apparatus in the laboratory let alone carrying out practical with them. This poor performance in science (Chemistry, Biology and Physics) tends to suggest that the teaching and learning of science in our secondary school is not satisfactory. These days, it is observed that there seems to be a dwindling trend in student’s enrolment in science especially these three main subjects (chemistry, biology and physics) in most secondary schools (field observation on 2010/2011 teaching practice). This supposedly could be due to the activities of science laboratory assistants. Most of these laboratory assistants cannot set up the apparatus and do not know the laboratory rules and regulations. This leads to the poor performance of students in the practical, and the provision of further scientist that will study science will be at stake.
This poor state of affair is incredibly disturbing. The laboratory assistants that needed to assist science teachers in carrying out practicals in most cases are not qualified to assist them. And so the entire workload is left to rest squarely on the science teachers. This of course, is some of the factors that motivated the researchers in the selection of this topic with view of seeking lasting solutions to it.

Purpose of the Study
This study therefore is intended to look at the role of laboratory assistant in teaching and learning, competencies of laboratory assistants with a view to proffering solution towards solving the problem. The aim of this study is therefore: –
1. To find out the roles of laboratory assistants.
2. To find out, if laboratory assistant have adequate knowledge of the roles expected of them.
3. To determine the competencies possessed by laboratory assistants.
4. To find out, to what extent the experience of laboratory assistants improve the effectiveness of their duty.
5. To ascertain the extent to which laboratory assistants experiences on laboratory work improve the performance of student in science external examination.

Significance of the Study
The findings of this study would be of help to the following:
– Science students
– Curriculum/planners
– Teachers and other prospective researchers, who might be interested in this and/other related work.
– It would be of immense help to both present and prospective policy makers of the Nigeria educational system in the area of planning, efficient utilization of available resources and curriculum implementation for the achievement of the programme.
– The performances of science students in these three main science subjects will invariably improve as the laboratory workers who are directly involved will realize the major roles the study have to play for their standard performance and effective service delivery during science practicals in the laboratory.
The findings of the study shall be beneficial and of immense help in identifying the major problems confronting science teachers, the laboratory assistants and the students as well, and factors responsible for this educational problem and propose the way forward.

Scope of the Study
The study was limited to the role expectations of laboratory assistants, qualifications and competencies of laboratory assistants, the effect of the performances of laboratory assistant.
To ascertain the level of knowledge possessed by the laboratory assistants on the roles expected of them. The extent at which the experience of laboratory assistants on their work could improve the performance of students in science external examination in secondary schools in Enugu urban.

Research Questions
The study is guided by the following research questions: –
1. What are the roles expected of the science laboratory assistants in our secondary schools?
2. Do they have adequate knowledge of the roles expected of them?
3. Are they competent on their performance in laboratory work?
4. To what extent do their experience on laboratory work improve the effectiveness of their duty.
5. To what extent do their experiences on laboratory work improve the performance of students in science external examination.