FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PERFORMANCE OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

The study focused on Factors associated with poor performance of Chemistry Education students: A case study of the University of Benin. To make this possible four research questions were raised to ascertain the Factors that contributed to the persistent poor performance of students in Chemistry Education in the University of Benin, Problems in Chemistry with respect to the Chemistry curriculum in the University of Benin, Diverse background and various levels of academic ability of students in Chemistry education and contribution of Chemistry laboratory to academic performance of students.

Descriptive survey research design was adopted to accomplish the objectives of the study. The sample size of the study consists of one hundred (100) undergraduates from Chemistry Education. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire developed by the researcher and was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education. The reliability coefficient was 0.81 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation method.

Findings from the research showed that The Problem of Chemistry Syllabus in the University of Benin is accepted among respondents to agree that Chemistry syllabus is too bulky for students to assimilate and that the curriculum is unfavorable to them. The study shows that the various causes of the Chemistry Education student’s attitudes towards Chemistry were poor. It was concluded that the various causes of the Students’ of Chemistry Education Attitudes towards Chemistry is poor and revealed that the use of available resources affect students’ achievement in Chemistry. However it was recommended that Government should ensure adequate provision of funds for the procurement of instructional materials and laboratory equipment that are not available in Federal Universities. Also, Lecturers should be encouraged to adopt demonstration method which is considered the best and most effective method of teaching chemistry.