Practices and challenges of activities for successful practical lab work in chemistry at Debre Markos Preparatory School, East Gojjam, Ethiopia

Abstract

Chemistry is a field of study in which a lot of experimentation is involving. An experiment is a test carried out under controlled conditions to demonstrate a known truth, to examine validity of a hypothesis and to determine the efficacy of something new. Laboratory experience also gives students an opportunity to observe chemical systems and to gather data useful for the development of principles subsequently discussed in the textbook and in class. However, experimental work is a fundamental part of any science course and this is especially true for chemistry courses. It is vital to know that any one in chemistry should be able to conduct practical work effectively. This paper seeks to offer an overview of the current situation in higher education, and explores what might be the aims for today. It also argues that laboratory work in higher education cannot be seen in isolation. For most students it follows school laboratory experiences which are rapidly changing, and has to relate to material taught in lectures and tutorials. But, learning chemistry by doing practical work at Debre Markos higher education preparatory secondary school is not organized in such a way. So, the researcher needs to conduct this study to explore all things that are happening there. The study employed in both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The researcher used descriptive research strategy and data were collected by using questionnaire, interview, document analysis, FGD and observation. The sample size of this study is 221; 212 students and 8 teachers, the school administrator and the delegated lab technician were also considered. It was analyzed by percentage, mean value, t-test and one-way ANOVA by SPSS program version 20. The main challenges of DMHEPSS practical works were lack of teachers’ interest and carelessness, lack of wise school administrator, lack of professional lab technician, lack of conducive lab environment were the main challenges that the researcher was discovered. Therefore; motivating and encouraging teachers, training teachers, creating awareness of students on practical works, employing professional lab technician and improving the attitudes of school administrator were solutions to be taken there.