This study was carried out on the Attitude of Biology Teachers towards Improvisation and Utilization of Instructional Materials in Private Secondary Schools in Potiskum Local Government Area. Four research questions in line with the purpose of the study were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The target group of the study was the entire 38 Biology teachers from 22 Private schools in Potiskum Local Government Area. Due to manageable size of the group, there is no sample and sampling technique used for the study as such the entire group was used for the study. Data were collected for the study through the administration of structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analysed using mean. The findings of the study revealed that, Biology teachers give students group projects to produce instructional materials and Biology teachers request that students bring materials in the environment to be used as improvised material during lessons. The findings of the study also revealed that, Biology teacher utilized improvised Visual aids like diagram, charts, posters, pictures and photographs for effective teaching of Biology, and Biology teachers utilized available resource person in the community to improvised instructional materials for teaching Biology. The findings of the study further revealed that, the use of Improvised Biology Materials helps the biology teachers to capture and sustain the curiosity and interest of the learners towards the lesson in schools and that the use of Improvised Biology Materials helps the biology teachers to motivate students in the subject being taught. The findings of the study also revealed that, lack of awareness on where to obtain facilities for improvising instructional materials and lack of motivation on part of government for Biology teachers in their efforts towards improvisation of instructional materials for teaching Biology are some of the problems faced by Biology teachers towards improvisation of Instructional Materials for Teaching and Learning of Biology in Private Secondary Schools in Potiskum Local Government Area. It was recommended that, Policy-makers in the secondary schools should raise fund so as to procure materials necessary for improvisation and purchase of textbooks that will facilitate the effective teaching of the course.

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The study was carried out on the evaluation of the effects of over-population on teaching and learning of among students in junior secondary schools in Potiskum Local Government Area. To guide the study, 3 research questions in line with purpose of the study were formulated. Descriptive Survey Research Design was adopted for the study. The target population of the study was the entire teachers in randomly selected four junior secondary schools in Potiskum Local Government Area. Stratified Random Sampling Technique was adopted to select 40 teachers from the 4 junior secondary schools to constitute the sample size of the study. Structure Questionnaire was the major instrument used to collect data for the study. The data collected was analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation for the questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that, inability of teachers to paid attention to individual students that need special attention, lack of classroom control and management at overcrowded classroom and teachers found it difficult in conducting effective continuous assessment in classroom are some of the problems faced by teachers and students in teaching and learning in over-populated classrooms in junior secondary schools of Potiskum Local Government Area. The findings of the study also revealed that, high numbers of the students in classroom affect academic performance and that smaller class’s size lead to improvement of academic performance are some of the effects of over-population on the quality of teaching and learning in junior secondary schools in the study area. The findings of the study further revealed that, Admission of the students in junior secondary schools should be based on minimum standard as specified National Junior Secondary School Curriculum and provision of modern teaching aids such as overhead projectors, power point presentation device that each and every individual student will view the content of the lesson in the classroom are some of the ways forwards for overcoming the problems faced by teachers and students in over-populated classroom during teaching and learning in junior secondary schools in the study area. It was recommended that, a ratio of 1:40 teachers to students is hereby suggested for junior secondary schools as stated in the National Policy of Education (2013).