INTRODUCING ASTRONOMY CLUBS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO BOOST INTEREST IN STEM EDUCATION (nNEWI-SOUTH LGA)

Abstract

This study was carried out in secondary schools in Amichi, Nnewi-South  Local Government Area of Anambra State as part of the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) sponsored project. Two public/government secondary schools and Two private secondary schools in  Amichi were used. 1310 Senior Secondary I &II (SS1&2) school students and 40 science teachers from the schools were involved. The study examined the effects of introducing the Astronomy Club in secondary school in stimulating the teaching and learning of science subjects. The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. Statistical mean score and standard deviation were used to analyze the answer to the research question. The result showed that the existence of an Astronomy/Science Club in secondary school will have positive effects in stimulating the teaching and learning of science subjects in secondary schools and generate more interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education.