Adequacy, Utilization of Laboratory Equipment and Performance of Junior High School Science Teachers

This research aimed to determine the relationship between laboratory equipment adequacy and utilization, and the performance levels of Science teachers in Malapatan Municipality. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed, utilizing surveys and observations to collect the data from 13 teachers across three districts, Malapatan Districts 1, 2 and 3. The study revealed that most teachers have Master of Arts in Education degrees in Science, a significant portion lacks in-service training, potentially limiting their effectiveness in using laboratory resources and teaching methods. The deficiency in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics equipment hinders Grade 9 Science teachers' ability to conduct hands-on experiments and practical demonstration crucial for teaching these subjects. Classifying skill shows high extent in utilizing the laboratory equipment while Observing, Inferencing, Experimenting, Predicting, Communicating, and General Questions require improvement. In terms of teaching performance, teachers excel in Physics but need improvement in Earth Science, Chemistry, and Biology. The weak positive correlation between equipment adequacy and teacher performance needs to be improved, indicating that additional factors such as teacher skills and resource availability play significant roles. The researcher developed a comprehensive and effective professional training program for science teachers to effectively utilize laboratory equipment and incorporate science process skills into teaching methods.