Practical skills of science teacher-trainees in science and mathematics colleges of education in Ghana

This study explored the laboratory practical activities of teacher-trainees of Science and Mathematics Colleges of Education in Ghana. The study resulted from teachers’ inability to effectively carry out hands-on practical activities for students’ at the basic education level, coupled with poor performance of students at the Junior High School level in Ghana. The main purpose for this study therefore, was to identify some major practical activities carried out by teacher-trainees before internship, and some major problems associated with the activities. An opened and close-ended questionnaire was developed, guided by Science Laboratory Classroom Environment Inventory (SLCEI). The instrument was used to collect data from teacher-trainees to determine the types of laboratory practical activities and skills practiced by teacher-trainees. Data were collected from 5 out of the 15 Colleges of Education designated to pursue the quasi-specialist science programme. The study involved 300 teacher-trainees made up of 149 males and 151 females. The study showed that teacher-trainees engaged in practical activities that were mostly minds-on, instead of hands-on activity, and this occurred only once in a week. However, trainees expressed high and very high interest in skills practised based on their previous backgrounds.