Management of Science Laboratories for Effective Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools in Oyo State

This study examined management practices for science laboratories and their effect on teaching and learning effectiveness in public secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Laboratory management encompasses procurement, maintenance, scheduling, safety enforcement, and technician oversight, and its quality directly determines the extent to which practical science instruction can occur. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The sample comprised 150 Science teachers, 60 laboratory technicians, and 30 school principals from secondary schools across Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, and Oyo Local Government Areas. Data were gathered using a Laboratory Management Practices Scale validated by education management and science education experts, with a reliability of 0.82. Mean scores and Analysis of Variance were used in data analysis. Findings revealed significant variation in laboratory management quality across schools, with schools that had trained laboratory technicians and formal laboratory management policies recording higher effectiveness scores. Stock management and safety protocol adherence were identified as the weakest management dimensions. The study recommended development of a standardised laboratory management manual for secondary schools, employment of qualified laboratory technicians in all schools, and a periodic management audit system. Keywords: laboratory management, science education, secondary schools, Oyo State, teaching effectiveness.