INTRODUCTION
In Nigeria emphasis in developing our science and technological skills is very high because they are vital for economic and industrial development. The essence of this research work is to ascertain the level of practical integration in our senior secondary schools, to create awareness of it is importance into teaching and learning and recommendation of how to improve in our technological level as a nation.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In Nigeria science and technology is indispensable to use because it is the bedrock of our economic and industrial development. Basic as it is science and technology is in our daily human activities. It is worthy to note that the major advances made in Medicine, Pharmacy, Industrial Chemistry, Engineering are based on researches being conducted in many areas of science and technology such as Chemistry.
Chemistry is taught as a science subject in almost all Nigeria senior secondary schools even in the higher and tertiary institutions and these schools thus serve as the starting point for the teaching of introductory chemistry with the aim of training the students in the process of scientific investigations. Chemistry is one of the core-science subjects in our school because it is one of the entry requirements in some fields of studies such as Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Science Education, Biochemistry and so on.
The extent of integration of practicals in senior secondary schools has a lot to tell on any chemistry students especially in his or her final examination since no work is done on any science subject especially chemistry if there is no integration of practicals which helps in better assimilation of scientific theories for effective industrial output in the society.
The most influential science process established (Tamir, 1991) stated that the prerequisite knowledge of concept and principles can be obtained only if the students have certain underlying capability of the science processes, which are needed to practise and understand science subject especially in Chemistry. These processes include, making operational definitions, formulations, observing, classifying, measuring, formulating hypothesis, interpreting data collected from the observations, and drawing conclusions.
However, contents and concepts will undoubtedly change but the mental skill of the approach that is process skills is relevant to the solution of everyday problem. If a student can think scientifically, he can observe, make simple hypothesis, test them by experiment and make valid inferences and interpreted data, then the level of science and technology in our country will increase to its apex.
Finally, science which Chemistry is a branch is the foundation for scientific enquiry. They are the generalizable intellectual skills needed to learn concepts and broad theories and principles used in making valid inductive inferences. Unfortunately, in Nigeria today, it appears that students are deprived of acquiring the appropriate process skills they need by the society, government, the school, teachers or even themselves. It has been observed that students in this present era are not doing marvellously well especially in their science hence this poor performance in their practical examinations in senior school certificate examination affects the overall result.
For this reason the present research is focused to ascertain the extent of integration of practicals into teaching chemistry in senior secondary schools in Enugu South Local Government of Enugu State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
In recent years, manpower and millions of naira have been devoted in efforts to improve science teaching in the schools because of the decrease in standard of education in Nigeria has fallen. The teaching of science subjects in Nigeria is now faced with lots of problems and they include among others:
In this present era there has been shortage of teachers with good knowledge of ways of imparting scientific knowledge and results has shown that laboratory method of teaching science subjects helps to increase our student scientific skills and knowledge thereby solving our country’s industrial and economic problems.
Based on the above, the obvious adverse problems as stated above, states the importance of this study, which tends to look into the extent or level of integration of practicals into teaching chemistry in senior secondary schools in Enugu South local Government Area of Enugu State.
1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY
The purpose of this research work is to access the extent of integration of practicals into teaching chemistry in Senior Secondary Schools in Enugu South local government of Enugu State. More specifically, the study is aimed at: –
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Since every well researched work aimed at improving other existing research work in other to solve an existing problem; this present research will help in obtaining useful information concerning the extent of integration of practicals into teaching chemistry in senior secondary school classes and making appropriate recommendations that will improve or increase the overall performance in External Examinations.
It will also serve as a means of obtaining more information for further research work.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In view to actualize the purposes of this study, the following research questions have to be stated as a guide to the researcher.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study mainly focused on findings from Senior Secondary Schools in Enugu State specifically in Enugu south local government area. This local government is made up urban and rural area. Among the urban area include Awkunanaw, Uwani, Idwa- River, Maryland. While the rural areas include: Obeagu, Ugwaji, Ndiagu, Amechi and Akwuke.
Table 1.1: Presentation of Data Table of Senior Secondary School in Enugu South Local Government Area
AGBANI ZONE
S/N
Enugu South (SNR)
Boys
Girls
Co-Educ
Total
Remark
1
Union S. S. Awkunanaw
1
0
0
1
2
C. I. I. Enugu
1
0
0
1
Non-Dis
3
Uwani S. S. Enugu
1
0
0
1
4
Army Day S. S. Awkunanaw
0
0
1
1
5
Idaw-Rier G. S.S.
0
1
0
1
6
B.S.S. Maryland
1
0
0
1
7
H. R. C. Uwani
0
1
0
1
Non-Dis
8
G. G. R. S. Awkunanaw
0
1
0
1
9
C. S. S. Ugwuaji
0
0
1
1
10
C. S. S. Akwuke
0
0
1
1
11
C.S.S. Ndiagu Amechi
0
0
1
1
Non-Dis
12
C. S. S. Obeagu Awkunanaw
0
0
1
1
13
Chukwu Mem. S. S.
0
0
1
1
Total
4
3
6
13
Source: Post Primary School Management Board, Enugu, 2009
Mean while each of these areas that make up the local government area has both private and government owned senior secondary school, because of the limitation of this work, it centers more on the government owned senior secondary school.
The local government has thirteen (13) senior secondary school in total boy schools are four (4) and girls schools and three (3) while co-educational are six (6).
Table 1.2: Presentation of Data Table of Senior Secondary Schools Enrolment in Enugu Local Government Area 2009
Enugu South (SNR)
Boys
Girls
Co-Educ
S/N
Name of School
M
F
T
1
Union S. S. Awkunanaw
430
0
430
2
Uwani S.S Enugu
634
0
634
3
C. I. I. Enugu
1675
0
1675
4
Idaw-River G. S. S.
0
910
910
5
B. S. S. Maryland
175
0
175
6
G. G. R. S. Awkuannaw
0
669
669
7
C. S. S. Obeagu Awkunanaw
49
68
117
8
C. S. S. Ugwuaji
76
39
115
9
Army Day S. S. Awkunanaw
354
268
622
10
H. R. C. Enugu
0
1730
1730
11
Chukwu Mem. S. S.
22
36
58
12
C. S. S. Ndiagu Amechi
71
90
161
13
C. S. S. Akwuke
84
82
166
Total
3570
3892
7462
Source: Post Primary School Management Board, Enugu, 2009
Based on the above, and as result of cost of material; land other logistic and other physical problems the research is restricted to adopt random sampling method of some schools which will be taken to be evaluated as the obtainable value for the studied local government.
Table 1.3: Presentation of Data Table for Science (Chemistry) Students of Senior Secondary Schools in Enugu South Local Govern78ment Area 2009
Enugu South (SNR)
Boys
Girls
Co-Educ
S/N
Name of School
M
F
T
1
Union S. S. Awkunanaw
220
0
220
2
Uwani S.S Enugu
330
0
330
3
C. I. I. Enugu
950
0
950
4
Idaw-River G. S. S.
0
400
400
5
B. S. S. Maryland
50
0
50
6
G. G. R. S. Awkuannaw
0
410
410
7
C. S. S. Obeagu Awkunanaw
20
30
50
8
C. S. S. Ugwuaji
25
10
35
9
Army Day S. S. Awkunanaw
100
150
250
10
H. R. C. Enugu
0
1300
1300
11
Chukwu Mem. S. S.
10
20
30
12
C. S. S. Ndiagu Amechi
20
10
30
13
C. S. S. Akwuke
30
30
60
Total
1755
1190
2945
Source: Post Primary School Management Board, Enugu, 2009