ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to explore the usage of instructional materials and the associate challenges with the usage in lesson delivery in basic schools in the Akropong circuit of the Atwima Nwabiagya District in the Ashanti Region. The objectives of the study were to determine the instructional materials available, find out the effect of instructional materials usage on lesson delivery, and to ascertain the challenges on the use of instructional material in lesson delivery in Basic Schools in the Akropong Circuit of the Atwima Nwabiagya District. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design using the quantitative approach was used for the study. The target population of the study consists of all the 95 headteachers and teachers in the seven public Junior High Schools in the Akropong Circuit. Purposive sampling technique was used to select all the seven head teachers. Simple random sampling technique was also used to select 10 teachers from each of the seven Junior High Schools making a sample size of 77 for the study. The study found among others that charts, text books, library books, laboratories for practical work, pictures were kinds of instructional materials available in basic schools. Also, the effects of the use of instructional materials were that it improves pupils participation in lesson delivery, promotes retention, and also helps to remove dullness during lesson delivery. Again, lack of finance to acquire or improvise needed instructional materials, lack of electricity to be used for instructional materials that uses electrical power and inadequate in-service training to upgrade the knowledge of teachers towards the proper use of modern instructional materials were some of the challenges in the use of instructional materials. It is recommended based on the findings that the Atwima Nwabiagya District Education Service should make available adequate teaching and learning materials to enhance teaching and learning in basic schools under the supervision of the Atwima Nwabiagya District Education Service.
