Abstract



This paper examined proficiency as a panacea for increasing teachers’ capacity in the use of laboratory techniques for effective teaching of practical biology. The writers lamented the decline in the performance of students in biology over the years which are partly due to inadequate instructional strategies by teachers. The authors also applauded the effort made by government of Nigeria in professionalizing teaching by the establishment of Teachers Registration Council (TRCN). The concept of professionalism and the characteristics of profession were examined. Approaches for effective conduct of biology practical with relevant examples were explained in this article. The paper concluded by noting that teaching is a noble profession in which the practitioners update their knowledge on a continuous basis. The authors recommended the fishing out of non-professionals from the teaching profession to enhance sanity in the education sector. In the same vein, non-professional teachers who want to remain in the teaching profession should be made to undergo relevant training before continuing in the profession.