Almost every school has a computer and a science laboratory, or at least one spacious room designated for both, each at a given time. This is all okay, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the school administrators.
This is because of a huge number of challenges that they encounter – that usually require a reasonable amount of money to come to terms with. In this article, we take a look at the commonest laboratory issues in most schools in Uganda;
1. Inadequate equipment
A lab ought to have enough equipment, or else it will seriously affect the teachers and significantly increase the chances of students failing the practical exams;
- Few students can get their hands on the equipment, meaning only few will learn
- If chemicals are inadequate, it limits the number of times that an experiment can be done, thus preventing students from learning by practice
- Every student struggles to get their hands on the equipment, thereby increasing the risk of damaging it
- In case of absence of certain equipment, some students will never learn certain topics effectively
This, therefore has to be every school administrator’s first priority, because in case the equipment aren’t enough, the entire learning process is also affected.
2. Accidents
Whether or not in the supervision of the lab attendant, it is always likely that an accident could happen at any time without anyone foreseeing it. Examples of lab accidents include;
- Accidentally swallowing or eating chemicals
- Getting injured by any of the lab equipment
- Students hurting one another while playing with the lab equipment
- Ignition of a fire on a lab by playing with the chemicals recklessly
When accidents happen, it’s usually the lab attendant to blame, because all the students are in their hands once they’ve entered the lab.
3. Lack of electricity
Electricity is a very important resource in enabling the smooth sail of so many activities. This is also true in the laboratories, especially the computer lab.
This is because no computer can switch on or stay on for a long time if there’s no electricity. Sometimes, some schools fall victim to power blackouts because they don’t have their own transformers.
4. Ill-trained personnel
For every laboratory, there has to be someone that manages and supervises every activity that takes place in the lab. This is to make sure that;
- All students use the equipment the right way
- Nobody steals any of the lab equipment
- Everyone handles the lab equipment with extra care to avoid damage
- Students don’t hurt each other or themselves using the lab equipment
Usually, it is way too cheap to hire someone with limited training and skills, because they can take low salaries – but it becomes even more costly in the long run.
5. Mishandling of lab equipment
Every lab equipment costs a reasonable amount of money. This means that to be maintained for the fulfillment of every student, lab equipment have to be handled well. Here’s how they are mishandled;
- Wastage of chemicals by measuring the wrong way
- Entering the computer lab with food and drinks
- Throwing or banging the equipment on the tables or floor
- Using lab apparatus to eat food
There are many more ways that students come up with ways to vandalize lab equipment, because that’s just how they are. Therefore, it’s the role of the assigned personnel to make sure that this doesn’t happen.
6. Limited space
Every lab has to be spacious enough so as to accommodate students, enable proper ventilation, and to make sure everything fits in.
This, therefore means that having inadequate space can risk a lot of things, and might make the lab unfit according to UNEB standards.
7. Poor storage of the lab equipment
The lab equipment don’t have to be stored in the lab. Every lab has to have a store where everything is kept under extra lock and key to save the equipment from things like;
- Theft
- Dust
- Mishandling, in case other classes want to borrow the room
- Difficulty in counting because they are scattered all over the room
Most of the lab equipment are fragile, and that means they have to be stored in a safe place that won’t allow them to break, even under mild or moderate pressure.
8. Old and malfunctioning equipment
For a properly functioning lab and great practical lessons, the school has to acquire new and properly functioning lab equipment.
However, some schools just don’t have enough money to purchase new items as they’re required, so they buy cheaper and sometimes weaker items that usually can’t last in the long run.
Conclusion;
Of course, not every school faces all these challenges singlehandedly. Under usual circumstances, it’s any number less than five of these. If all challenges are faced by one school, then there’s something obviously wrong with that.