Condition of science laboratories in boarding primary schools in Turkey

Today, science education is carried out many different techniques and methods. Among these methods, laboratory method is one of the most effective one. Laboratory as a teaching method that provides permanent learning and gives opportunity to students work individually or in a group. The aim of this research is to learn physical conditions of the science laboratories in boarding primary schools which are established where the population is low and scattered settlements in order to meet the needs of the children in age of compulsory education. There are 539 boarding primary schools are found in Turkey. In these boarding primary schools, as well as education other needs of students like accommodation and nurse are met. By this research, we also want to learn the opinions of administrators, science teachers, and students about uses of science laboratories in these boarding schools. The prepared questionnaires that are filled by administrators, science teachers and students were analyzed with percent frequency statistical method. This survey is undertaken in 429 primary boarding schools. 745 administrators, 653 science teacher and 1894 student were subject of the survey. According to the results of survey, in 51 (%9,46) boarding primary school there is no science laboratory. 80 (%10,74) administrators stated that there is not enough science subject teachers in school. 118 (13,83) administrators stated that science laboratories used an hour or two hours in week. 257 (%34) administrators stated that physical conditions are not sufficient in terms of space and equipment.203 (%31,09) science teachers stated that science laboratories were physically inadequate for students to do experiment. 441 (%67,53) science teachers stated that there is no installation of water and electricity on the laboratory tables. 222 (%34) science teachers stated that only 6th, 7th and 8th grade students use science laboratories an or two hours in a week. 1894 (%99.31) of students attending 5th -8th grades in primary boarding schools, stated that they enjoyed doing experiment in science and technology laboratory. 859 (%45,35) of them stated that they used the laboratory once a month and 155 (%8,18) stated that they didn?t use science laboratory at all.