Teachers' Perception of the Status of Teaching and Learning of Sciences among Secondary School Students in Zamfara State: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

To achieve quality education as one of the goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it requires effective teaching and learning at all educational levels in Nigeria. This study therefore adopted a descriptive survey research design to find out the perception of science teachers in both male and female secondary schools on teaching and learning sciences in Zamfara state, this is to ascertain that the system of education practice in the state comply with SDGs. Population of the study consists of all public Secondary School Science Teachers during the 2023/2024 academic session in Zamfara State. A Sample size of 158 (Male=70 and Female=88) teachers were drawn from the target population using multi-stage sampling technique. Four research questions were raised and one hypothesis was tested. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire (STQTLPSS) developed by the researchers in line with the indicators of SDGs goal 4 target 4a. The instrument was validated and reliability coefficient of 0.78 was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test. The data were analysis using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U-Test. The result of the study revealed that teaching and learning of science subjects at senior secondary schools in Zamfara state has not reach expectation to meet up with target 4a of SDGs as the response of science teachers pointed out some challenges hindering their effectiveness in teaching. Also there are significant difference in some aspect of teaching and learning of science subjects between male schools and female schools. Among others, significant difference existed in the level of students’ engagement in the lesson. This call for gender equality in the teaching of science subjects at secondary schools in Zamfara state. It was concluded that the situation of teaching and learning in Zamfara state as not be adequately on the track of SDGs. It was recommended that state government and school administrators should put in place all what it requires in making effective teaching and learning of science subjects at senior secondary schools and establishing mechanism to maintain gender equality. Keywords: Teachers’ perception, teaching and learning, attainment, SDG, science teachers