Acid Rain and Environmental Problems: Implications for the Teaching of Biology in Schools in Riverine Communities

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of acid rain and environmental problems on the teaching of Biology in schools in the riverine communities of Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria. One hundred and eighty (180) Biology teachers were selected using the stratified sampling technique. A questionnaire titled "Acid rain and Teaching of Senior Secondary Biology" (ARTSSB) was used to collect data for testing the four null hypotheses of the study at .05 level of significance. Data analysis was done using the t-test statistics. Findings were made that the damage of buildings by acid rain, the destruction of forest by acid rain, the devastation of arable land by acid rain and the acidification of surface and domestic waters by acid rain all had a significant influence on the study of senior secondary Biology. Recommendations were made among others that: the ecology component of the Biology curriculum for secondary schools should be effectively taught; important environmental issues including acidification of environment by acid rain should be incorporated into the senior secondary curriculum and be carefully thought by teachers of Biology.