1. Introduction
The progress in science and technology during the last few decades has conclusively changed our conception of the significance of various scientific disciplines. The increasing chemicalization of the knowledge is related to the fact that, the progress of learning does not only widens the scope of our knowledge but deepens it and make it more exact. Science education is the field concerned with sharing scientific knowledge, and methods with people not considered part of scientific community. Science education has been identified as one of the major bedrock for the sustainable development of our country, which is seen as knowledge or ideas acquisition relevant to science, and is concerned with important of knowledge on environment, as well as others. Baba opined that no nation can develop without science education. Science is therefore receiving much emphasis in education because of its significance and relevance to life and society. Biology as a branch of science and the pre-requisite subject for many field of learning contributes immensely to technological growth of the nation. The study of biology both in tertiary and senior secondary schools can equip the learners with useful concepts, principles and theories that will enable them face challenges before and after graduation. The importance of biology and biology education for sustainable national development cannot be overemphasized as it finds its way into agriculture, pharmacy, ethnobotany, medicine, biotechnology, and other related fields. This paper intended to discuss the meaning and concept of biology, factors affecting the development of biology education as well as the role of biology education for sustainable development.
2. Concept and Meaning of Biology Education
The term biology is coined from two Greek words "bios" meaning life and "logos" meaning to study, and this simply defined as the study of life or the study of plants and animals. According to oxford biology is the study of living organisms, and these includes structure (gross and morphological), functioning, origin and evolution, classification, interrelationship and distribution. Biology as pointed by Nakano is the science that deals with the study of living things, since it is the study of living things there are certain recognizable characteristics by which living things which includes; movement, death, respiration, growth, excretion, irritability, reproduction, and nutrition. Chukunyerenmuwa asserted that, biology remains one of the basic sciences whose teaching and learning is universally known to be efficient and successful, if only undertaken simultaneously with the help of adequate instructional resources and facilities. Biology plays a vital role in the field of biochemistry, genetics, physiology and anatomy, ecology, medicine Olutola et al., and molecular biology and as such biology has been made a central focus in some human activities including being a solution to the problem of food scarcity, health, hygiene, family life, poverty eradication, management and conservation of natural resources, biotechnology, ethics, various social vices and as well lack of appropriate infrastructural materials. Aina stated that, biology education is important to any growing economy like Nigeria. Many graduate of biology education are self employed and employers of labour; many owned schools for themselves where people works and earn their living while some are into fish business.
3. Problems Militating Against Biology Education Development in Nigeria
3.1. Improper Curriculum Development
Biology education has not been given an appropriate in the Nigerian school curriculum. Obiaga (1997) in opined that, the bulk of what is taught in schools is imported from other developed countries.
3.2. Inadequate Laboratory Equipments and Instructional Materials
Onasanya and Omosewo reported that, there were inadequate resources for the teaching of biology subject in Nigerian secondary schools. According to Chukunyerenmuwa the cost of effectively teaching biology is so high that Nigeria may not be able to afford at least in this period of economic recession, an adequately equipped laboratories and provision of adequate instructional materials for the teaching of biology. Many practical classes are not carried out due to the absence or inadequate laboratory equipments, reagents, as well as apparatus.
3.3. Lack of Qualified Teachers
Teachers quality has a strong bearing on societal survival since the quality of education in any society depends on the quality of its teachers as asserted by Ibrahim. Aina observed that, shortages of science (biology) teachers is what dominated Nigerian schools. He further stated that, recruitment of biology teachers is no longer based on merits; those who are qualified for biology teaching are not given employment because they don't have godfather in the government and this lead biology teaching appointment to favouritism and nepotism.
3.4. Methods of Teaching
One of the major biology education is to teach students some investigative skills such as observing, measuring, classifying, recording, analyzing, interfering, experimenting as well as others. Due to the fact that majority of the schools lack qualified biology teachers, most of the teachers does not imply appropriate methods of teaching as well as strategies of imparting knowledge to learners memories.
3.5. Corruption
Corruption is the greatest challenge to development of biology education in Nigeria which leads to many problems the country facing currently Aina. Its the corruption that makes schools administrator mismanaged fund meant for purchasing laboratory equipments and asked the teachers to make sure students still pass in examinations by all means.
3.6. Poor Funding
Another key challenge militating against the growth of biology education in Nigeria is poor funding. Nigerian government does not provide adequate fund for the provision of conducive and enabling the environment to facilitate the effective teaching and learning process as well as research. Research in biology education requires a huge investment and capital.
"to be continued in the next part"