Improvising Innovative Technology in Secondary in Nigeria: A Pragmatic Approach to Strengthening Foundational Science Education

Abstract

Science education is the bedrock of technological breakthrough; and technological breakthrough is the bedrock of modernization, transformation and sustainable national development. Science education is important in secondary education because it offers students the opportunity to in build bridge to different fields and sectors such as engineering, manufacturing, medicine, agriculture, chemistry, physics, mathematics and information sciences which are all important parts of national economy. Through science education, students are developed into more responsible citizens who would help to build stronger economy, contribute to a healthier environment and bring about a brighter future for local, national and global development. Knowing this, Nigeria has, over the years, designed elementary and secondary science curriculum for primary and secondary schools with the aim of equipping younger children with scientific knowledge and skills on which they can build scientific careers in later life. Despite these efforts, there are a lot of challenges facing implementation of science education curriculum in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria such as inadequate funding, lack of motivation for teachers; poor infrastructural facilities; lack of scientific equipment and materials, poor attitude of students to learning; lack of teaching skills and competence among science teachers. This paper examines the prospects of improvising innovative technology in strengthening foundational science education in Nigeria.