INTEGRATION OF 21ST CENTURY COMPETENCIES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF BIOLOGY

Abstract

Education in the 21st century requires the adoption and integration of modern competencies to effectively achieve teaching and learning objectives. These competencies include skills that foster critical thinking, learner-centered approaches, problem solving, creativity, and productivity in learning. This study examined the extent of integration of 21st-century competencies in the teaching and learning of Biology at the tertiary level. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to fifty Biology lecturers from selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria. However, only thirty-two questionnaires were retrieved and found valid for analysis. The results revealed that the respondents possessed good knowledge of 21st-century competencies, and the extent of their integration into the teaching and learning process was high, with a mean score of 24.59±2.05. The findings further indicated no significant difference in respondents’ knowledge of 21st-century skills based on gender, qualifications, or teaching experience. The study concluded that the integration of 21st-century competencies should be strongly encouraged among educators to adequately prepare learners for a digital-driven future.