Instructional Materials and Students Performance in Physics in Senior High Schools of Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

The paper explored the availability of instructional materials, uses of relevant instructional materials and the effect of instructional materials on students' academic achievement in physics. Senior High Schools in Cape Coast Metropolis were the settings for the study. The study emerged as one of the responses to the call of exploring mitigating factors of students' academic performance in physics in Ghana. 160 students and 13 physics teachers were used for the study. The findings showed that though some instructional materials are available, some critical and relevant ones are still in shortage. Except the projectors and the laboratory, both students and teachers revealed that all the other instructional materials are adequately used. The findings also showed that there is a strong association between the extent of using relevant instructional materials and performance of physics students. It suggested that Government should invest in the science programs to resource these SHS and provide them with relevant instructional materials especially laboratory facilities/apparatus. Individuals, corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations and old student's associations should partner government to invest in instructional materials in