Factors Associated with Mass Failure of Students in Chemistry

Summary

The role of chemistry in the development of any country including Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. With the increasing importance of chemistry to the emerging world, the performance of Nigerian students in the subject at the secondary school remains a worrisome failure. However, it is disappointing to note that the students’ performance in chemistry at internal and external examination has remained considerably poor, despite its relative importance. Several factors have been diagnosed to affect students’ poor performance. Korau (2016) reported that such factors include the student factor, teacher factor, societal factor, the governmental infrastructural problems, curriculum related variables, test related variables, language problem, home related variables and examination body related variables. Saage (2019) identified specific variables such as poor primary school background in science, lack of motivation for test, lack of interest in hard work, incompetent teachers in the primary schools, large classes and fear of the subject psychologically.