Preparing Students for the Digital Age: Imo State Secondary School Teachers' Perception of the Effectiveness of Stem Education in the Nigerian Curriculum

This descriptive survey research investigates the perception of male and female secondary school teachers in Owerri Municipal, Imo State, Nigeria, regarding the effectiveness of the Nigerian curriculum in delivering quality STEM education and their preparedness to integrate technology into their teaching. The study population consisted of all 310 senior secondary school teachers (78 males and 132 females) in Owerri Municipal Council. The study employed three research questions and utilized a 15-item questionnaire titled Teachers’ Perception towards the Effectiveness of STEM Education in the Nigerian Curriculum" (TPESENC) for data collection. The instrument's reliability was determined using Cronbach's Alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.83. The findings revealed concerns among teachers regarding the curriculum's adequacy in covering essential STEM concepts, its relevance to students' needs, and the effectiveness of assessment methods. While teachers reported adequate access to technological resources and administrative support, they indicated a lack of sufficient laboratory equipment. Encouragingly, teachers expressed confidence in their ability to integrate technology into their teaching and believed in its potential to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Based on these findings, the study recommends a comprehensive review and revision of the Nigerian STEM curriculum to ensure alignment with 21st-century skills and the specific needs of Imo State students