Laboratory Materials Usage and Physics Practical Skills Acquisition among S.3 Students of Isingiro North County, Isingiro District

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between laboratory material usage and physics practical skills acquisition among Senior Three (S.3) students in Isingiro North County, Isingiro District, Uganda. The main objective was to evaluate the practical effect of laboratory material usage skills acquisition. The specific objective was to assess the extent of laboratory material usage among Senior Three (S.3) students in Isingiro North County, Isingiro District. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, targeting 480 S.3 students, 12 physics teachers, and 6 laboratory attendants from six secondary schools. A sample of 162 participants was selected using stratified random and purposive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observational checklists, and analysed using SPSS for quantitative and thematic analysis for qualitative. Key findings revealed inconsistent laboratory material adequacy, with 40.3% of students reporting sufficient apparatus, but 86.8% lacked access to ICT tools. The study concluded that while basic laboratory resources were available, their inadequacy and the near-total absence of ICT tools hindered effective practical learning. Although students possessed basic skills, they struggled with advanced competencies like error analysis and independent experimentation. The study recommends increasing laboratory material quantities, investing in ICT infrastructure, and training teachers in resource utilisation. Policymakers should allocate targeted funding to rural schools to reduce resource gaps and improve physics practical learning outcomes.