Teaching Effectiveness and Students' Academic Performance in Biology Practical in High Schools in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon

The study investigated teaching effectiveness and students’ academic performance in biology practical in high schools in Fako Division in the South West Region of Cameroon. The specific research objectives were to find out the effect of biology Teacher’s competence in practical on students’ academic performance in biology practical in high schools in Fako Division; and to find out the effect of biology practical teaching methods on students’ academic performance in biology practical in high schools in Fako Division. The specific research objectives were later transformed into specific research questions and specific research hypotheses. The study adopted a sequential exploratory design. Quantitative data were collected from 291 biology students by means of a questionnaire, while qualitative data were collected from 12 biology teachers using an interview guide. The biology students and the biology teachers who made the sample were from six high schools in Fako Division. The data generated from the questionnaires were analysed descriptively and inferentially. While those from the interviews were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that biology teacher’s competence in practical have no significant effect on students’ academic performance in biology practical in high schools in Fako Division, while biology practical teaching methods have a significant effect on students’ academic performance in biology practical in high schools in Fako Division. Based on the findings, it was recommended that biology teachers should be trained and sensitized via seminars and workshops on the teaching methods to use during biology practical.