Assessment of status and practices of chemistry laboratory organization and utilization in ‘Adet’ and ‘Debremewii’ secondary schools, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study intends to assess the availability of Chemistry laboratories in schools, extent of applying laboratory and its resources in teaching chemistry subject, and the problems confronted in using chemistry laboratories in the teaching and learning process of the subject chemistry in ‘Adet’ and ‘Debremewii’ secondary school, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The study also examines the practices of organizing and utilizing chemistry laboratory in the schools. A mixed method research approach was used. The study was targeted two government higher secondary schools (‘Adet’ and ‘Debremewii’ secondary school). The respondents were all chemistry teachers, one department heads, one chemistry laboratory technicians, and 20 students from each school of grades 9 and 10. Questionnaire, Rating scales, interview and observation checklist were used to collect data for the study. The data collected was analyzed for Percentages and frequencies using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The study’s findings confirmed that in both schools; there were isolated science laboratory rooms, available laboratory apparatus and chemicals are stored in an unorganized way, there are no chemistry laboratory resources available adequately, chemistry teachers and students from grade 9 and 10 hardly use chemistry laboratories, demonstration method of experimentation is the most commonly used method and students laboratory performance assessment is based on the paper and pencil methods of assessment. It was also revealed that several teachers confronted problems when performing chemistry laboratory experiments due to inadequate availability of chemistry laboratory facilities, absence of well-trained laboratory assistant, lack of appropriate skills and training of chemistry teachers, and lack of important facilities including electricity and water to the laboratory rooms were some among the others. The study recommended that different stakeholders in education sector and other concerned bodies should support secondary schools in organizing and utilizing chemistry laboratory practical activities in both schools for the
effective teaching and learning of the subject.