ASSESSING AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF LABORATORY FACILITIES FOR TEACHING CHEMISTRY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF SELECTED WOREDAS IN EAST GURAGE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Laboratories are of the utmost importance in the teaching and learning of science subjects, including chemistry. This study was premised on assess the availability; evaluate the utilization of laboratory facilities for teaching chemistry. The studies that would be used were a descriptive survey study conducted in East Gurage Zone Selected Woredas. It targeted a population of 12 public secondary schools, from which seven secondary schools, 8 chemistry teachers, 7 head of chemistry department, 320 chemistry students from each sampled schools top ten students and 4 laboratory technicians were selected using a combination of simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interview schedules and observation schedules were used to collect data, which was analyzed using descriptive statistics quantitatively percentages, frequencies, and means with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and qualitatively using words. The study revealed that schools had laboratory room with storage space, space for class work and sample preparation room but, they lack most common facility such as, equipment, sufficient chemicals and well trained manpower. Teachers were found to prefer demonstrations and students were not familiar with use of common apparatus and therefore could not be in a position to handle a practical activities. Insufficient availability of chemistry laboratory resources and its ineffective utilization was one of the major causes of students‟ poor performance in chemistry in the study area. It is recommended that all schools should have adequately equipped laboratories; qualified technicians should be employed to support the teachers‟ work to enable proper utilization of the laboratories. Students be given sufficient opportunity to be engaged in practical lessons in secondary schools will enhance good performance in practical work and ultimately the overall chemistry grades in internal and national examinations