Assessment of Current Status of Physics Laboratory Practical Activities and Factors Affecting Their Implementations: In Colleges of Teacher Education in Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study assessed: adequacy level of laboratory facilities, utilization of resources, current status of implementations of laboratory practical activities; and investigates main causal factors affecting the implementation of physics laboratory practical activities in Western Oromia ( Nekemte, Shambuu, Metu and Dembidollo) College of Teacher Education. The study employed descriptive survey study design and was guided by four basic research questions. Purposive and probability sampling techniques were utilized to select sample representatives. Data collecting tools: questionnaire, interview, observations, and content analyses were employed. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were utilized, i.e. frequency and percentage content analysis. Accordingly, the study found out that-- current status of implementation of laboratory practical activities were unsatisfactory, facilities were not adequate, far below the expectations to perform effective practical activities. Overwhelmingly, the status of physics laboratory practical activities in colleges of teacher education in Western Oromia are not on their stipulated state. The study suggested that stake holders, colleges and concerned bodies need to assist in ensuring adequate facilities and to alleviate factors hindering implementations of physics laboratory practical activities in colleges of teacher education and ensure that their predetermined standards are maintained.