Investigating The Problems Encountered By Senior Secondary School Students in Learning Chemistry

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the Problems Encountered by Senior Secondary School Students in Learning Chemistry in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State. Five research questions were raised and answered to achieve the purpose of this study. The population of this study consist of all the 1890 senior secondary (SS2) chemistry students in the 18 public secondary schools in Awka South L.G.A. of Anambra State. A sample of 288 SS2 chemistry was randomly selected. The instrument for data collection was a 20 item questionnaire titled “Problems Encountered by Senior Secondary Chemistry Students in Learning of Chemistry(PESLC) which was validated by two lecturers in the Department of Science Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach alpha method which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.83. Mean was used in data analysis. Methodologically, this study is purely quantitative and the research design adopted for the study is survey research design. The findings of the study revealed that teaching approach used in the basic science classes such as stimulus variation and the extent of the students’ previous knowledge in basic science have positive impact on the students’ perception and interest in learning chemistry. Availability of educational resources such as qualified teachers, textbooks, laboratory equipment’s and a conducive learning environment, motivates students to learn chemistry. The study recommended that government at all levels and all stakeholders should give more serious attention to the teaching and learning of basic science in junior secondary school levels. Government at all levels and all stakeholders should make adequate provision of basic educational resources in terms of instructional materials and quality human resources to ensure effective teaching and learning of chemistry.