The interplay between Teachers’ Efficacy, Effectiveness, Attitudes and Students' Academic Achievement in Biology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between teachers' efficacy, teachers’ effectiveness, attitude toward biology, and students' achievement in biology among lower secondary schools in Nyamagabe district, Rwanda. The study used an ex-post-facto research design to accomplish this. Eighty-eight respondents including 44 head teachers and 44 biology teachers were purposively selected from 46 schools as a sample. Data were collected using the Teacher Efficacy Scale (TE), Teachers Attitude towards Teaching Biology Questionnaire (TATBQ) for teachers, and Biology Teacher Effectiveness Questionnaire (BTEQ) for headteachers. Besides, the 2018 Biology National Examination 2018 results were used as a measure of student academic performance in biology. The Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression analyses were used in the data analysis. Correlation results revealed a positive and significant relationship between the teachers’ attitudes towards teaching biology, efficacy and effectiveness, and student's academic performance in biology. Multiple regression analysis indicated that teachers’ attitudes, efficacy, and effectiveness have a positive contribution to the model. It was concluded that good biology knowledge, efficacy, and effectiveness, as well as biology teachers' positive attitudes, are key elements that, when combined, are thought to lead to greater academic success in biology in lower secondary schools. It was recommended, among other things, that school officials should monitor and supervise classroom teaching and learning at their schools regularly to ensure that teachers are performing their tasks properly. Teachers should be exposed to professional advancement programs such as seminars, workshops, and retraining to develop a more positive attitude towards the teaching of Biology and to improve their teaching strategies.