PROJECT: FACTORS AFFECTING THE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN ENUGU STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
According to Hornby (2008), science is the knowledge about the structure and behavior of natural and physical world based on facts that can be proved. Science is the study of natural phenomena and is distinguished from other fields because it relies on the hypothetical, deductive and experimental approach.
Ali (2004), defined science as that which is concerned with nature with regards to developing, acquiring and controlling knowledge, skills, capacity and attitude about natural factors of the environment. According to Hyacinth (2004), Science in its broadest scene refers to all human activities involving organized knowledge of natural phenomena. It also refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. Here, system means using observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. According to Okon, (2003), Science education has a prime position in the development of any nation. This is because the whole universe revolves around Science. According to Odoh, (2013), science and technology have been seen as the surest way in the promotion of economic development, alleviation or eradication of poverty, and introduction of social welfare in any country. According to Ali (2004) stated that chemistry has been identified as one of the major branches of science physical science.
Etesike and Nnamani, (2006) quoting from Ukungwu, (2003) defined Chemistry as a branch of physical Science that studies the composition, structure, properties and changes which matter undergo. Chemistry is chiefly concerned with atoms and molecules and their interactions and transformations, for example, the properties of the chemical bonds formed between atoms to create chemical compounds. As such, chemistry studies the involvement of electrons and various forms of energy in photochemical reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, changes in phases of matter, and separation of mixtures. Preparation and properties of complex substances, such as alloys, polymers, biological molecules, and pharmaceutical agents are considered in specialized fields of chemistry. Fab (2014) opines that Chemistry has been identified to be one of the important subjects needed for the sustenance and transformation of the national economy, and hence should be accorded adequate attention
According to Ezeudu (2012), a good Background knowledge in Chemistry Education will not only make the graduates teachers, Lecturers or Professors in Chemistry but will go a long way to make them self reliant through the acquisition of some basic entrepreneurial skills and pedagogical principles. The graduates of chemistry can go into soap production, fertilizer production, paint production, production of Germicides , production of perfumes, production of pomades , Herbicides to mention but a few. Oriaifo (2002) while stressing the importance of chemistry education noted that chemistry equips the learner with specific knowledge skills and attitude which enables him/her become useful to him/herself and the society at large. In Nigeria, chemistry as a subject occupies a prominent position in the nation’s secondary and tertiary curriculum. At the secondary level of education, a credit pass in chemistry is a pre-requisite for students to further their studies in fields like Medicine, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Engineering, Home Economics, Biological Science and other science related fields of Endeavour.
Chemistry do not just start and end in the classroom or school as often perceived, phenomenon in chemistry are practiced in our day to day lives in and outside the school. Okon (2012), identified some of the home chemistry practices as the process of heating (cooking/warming) of our food, the process of washing our cloths with soap or detergents, addition of limestone when cooking (eg beans, unripe plantain etc), the process of boiling grinded fresh tomato to allow the liquid to get dried, addition of salt to perishable food stuffs in other to preserve them, boiling and filtering of impure water to make it clean for drinking, the process of putting stainless steel spoon into meat while boiling, the process of separation of kerosene or petrol from water, the process of preparation of pap from grounded maize (corn), the process of spraying insecticides in the house to kill insects, the act of melting ice block into liquid water for the purpose of drinking, preparation of our African delicacy fufu, through cassava, the burning of materials in the presence of air (oxygen), the process of rusting of clean nail when it has been exposed to air and water (chemical change) etc. this is just to mention but a few. This goes to show that principles in chemistry are applied in our day to day activities even in our various homes. These principles are not just applied in our urban areas, even in our local villages chemistry is been practiced. For example, in most villages local soap is made from ashes of burnt plantain peels and used (or bleached) palm oil, quality drinking water has long been a problem in our local villages so most often people in the rural areas use alum to purify there drinking water, virtually all the different cooking practices in the local villages are based on chemistry phenomenon. Also chemistry knowledge, principles, concepts and facts have also helped in the development of appropriate technologies in military, Food preservation, Building, Petroleum, road Construction, transportation to mention but a few. Also our country that is mostly dependent on oil for its Revenue can boast her economy through the encouragement of chemistry education because a background in chemistry know as Organic chemistry has a lot to say about the various ways which petroleum and it bye products could be utilized.
Contrary to these benefits which could be driven from chemistry education, many evidences have been put forward to illustrate the fact that there is a serious decline in student’s enrolment in chemistry education in colleges of Education in Enugu State in comparison to other science courses. In support of this, evidence which the researcher obtained from the admission office of Federal college of Education Eha-amufu the following data to show as the admitted number of students between 2009-
Session
|
Biology
|
Integrated science
|
Computer
|
Chemistry
|
2009-2010
|
102
|
175
|
30
|
42
|
2010-2011
|
100
|
154
|
36
|
18
|
2011-2012
|
120
|
209
|
45
|
36
|
2012-2013
|
156
|
270
|
60
|
54
|
2013-2014
|
170
|
303
|
75
|
58
|
2014-2015
|
175
|
320
|
90
|
48
|
Source: admission office FCE Eha- Amufu
From the above sample it can be observed that between 2009-2010 the enrolment in Biology education has increased from 102 to 175 that of Integrated science from 175-320, that of Computer increased from 30 to 90 while that of Chemistry has only increased from 42-48 which shows a very slow increase on the side of chemistry education or could be said to be stagnant over the years. Also from the table it can be observed that unlike other departments, the enrolment have been dwindling over the years for instance from 2009-20011 it decreased from 42 to 18 from 2009 to 2012 it dwindled from 42- 36 and finally between 2013 to 2014 it dwindled from 58 to 48 which shows that instead of inclining like other departments that of chemistry department has been suffering a serious dwindling over the years.
Eze,(2011) was of the opinion that the greatest factor that is responsible low enrolment of students in chemistry education in colleges of education is parental influence. According to Dubey (2008) parents attitude help to condition their parent attitude. Morish (2009) reported that a child whose parents have positive attitude to chemistry is bound to have positive attitude towards chemistry and students whose parents have negative attitude towards chemistry will also be influenced by their parents attitude. That is to say that parents prefer registering their children to other courses like law, mass communication and even if it is education they prefer courses like English as of the case of federal college of Education Eha-Amufu where students in other art related courses far larger in number than those offering chemistry education. Azigba (2012) listed some factors which account for low enrolment in chemistry education, most of which are students perception of the subject matter of chemistry which he strongly believes that it is a common place fact that students perceive chemistry education as being so abstract, rigid, diverse, calculative, and brain storming. He went further to state that students’ low enrolment in chemistry education should be traced back to secondary schools where the foundations of chemistry education are being laid. He emphasized that in secondary schools we have shortage of chemistry teachers, lack of proper supply of laboratory facilities, the use of unsuitable method of teaching chemistry and low qualification of most chemistry teachers in secondary schools. Still on the factor responsible for low enrolment in various chemistry education Kalu (2014) opines that gender disparity is one of the greatest factors which affects students enrolment in chemistry education. He went further to state that people perceive chemistry education as being masculine in nature therefore this suggest the reasons while most people in various chemistry education are male while thousand of female enroll annually into other courses like English. He also suggests that another treat to students’ low enrolment in chemistry education is due to mirage and poor background knowledge of the students at the secondary level. Still on the factor that accounts for low enrolment of students in chemistry education, Ugwu: 2014, states that peer group has a great deal of influence on students’ choice of chemistry career. He went further to explain that most people enroll in other causes as a result of the kinds of friend they keep who prefer other causes which they regard as being non calculative in nature. He also stated that the most important factor leading to low enrolment of students in chemistry education is societal value accorded to chemistry education. Speaking on this, he stated that chemistry teachers are accorded no more value than a trader in the market. Thereby treating him with scorn and disdain and also he is given no place at the gathering of doctors, lawyers, and other stakeholders. Therefore such values are transcended down to the growing generation their by developing a big negative side towards chemistry education.
Statement of the Problem:
It is felt that the low enrolment in chemistry education option in college of education in Nigeria today is something we should worry about because it poses a great threat to teachers’ education in Nigeria and consequently, the lack of chemistry teachers in our secondary schools. Okoro (2009) opines that if poor enrolment of students in chemistry educations is allowed to continue, it will reach a stage where no students will enroll in chemistry education in Nigeria colleges of education. Okon (2004) in his research findings indicated that students shy away from chemistry education as a result of a number of factors which does not augur well for a developing nation like ours and so many sectors of our economy will be severely affected. Could this low enrolment be as a result of parental influence that needs them away to other courses which they see as more lucrative? Or could it be from the poor background students’ knowledge of chemistry at the secondary level, or just due to the negative perception of the students towards chemistry? it is on this background that this research is being carried out to know if these factors among others like peer group influence and environmental influence are responsible for low enrolment in chemistry education in colleges of Education in Enugu state.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to find out the various factors that are responsible for low students’ enrolment in chemistry education in colleges of education in Enugu State Nigeria. Specifically, the study aims at finding out:
1. whether parental factor influence students enrolment in chemistry education
2. whether peer group influence affect students enrolment in chemistry education
3. whether students perception of chemistry influence students enrolment in chemistry education
4. If the background knowledge of student in chemistry affect their enrolment in chemistry education
5. If the social value attached to the subject matter of chemistry affects students enrolment in chemistry education
Significance of the Study
The study will be very useful to the students who are still contemplating whether to take chemistry as a career course. It will also encourage chemistry teachers to adopt the various method of teaching chemistry it will also be useful to counselors and parents in directing their wards towards making a rightful course career and finally encourage the government to supply adequate laboratory materials to Chemistry Department in colleges of education and to secondary schools chemistry laboratories to enable her achieve her educational objectives
Scope of study:
The research will be limited to three prominent Colleges of Education in Enugu State one Federal, one state and one private which are Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu, Technical College of education, Enugu, and The College of Education Nsukka. This area of study will be used to predict the factors responsible for low enrolment of students in colleges of education in Enugu State.
Research Questions:
1. Do parental factors influence students’ enrolment in chemistry education?
2. Does peer group influence affect students’ enrolment in chemistry education?
3. Does students’ perception of the subject matter of chemistry influence students enrolment in chemistry education?
4. How does the background knowledge of student in chemistry affect their enrolment in chemistry education?
5. Does social value attached to the subject matter of chemistry affect students’ enrolment in chemistry education?
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
The main objective of this chapter is to review related literature, as they relate to the study. The review is carried out under the following headings.
@ Concept of Chemistry Education
@ Objectives of Chemistry Education in Nigeria
@ The importance of Studying Chemistry
@ Factors which lead to low Enrolment of Students in Chemistry Education in Nigeria
@summary of literature Review
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