IMPACT OF AVAILABILITY AND USAGE OF WELL-EQUIPPED LABORATORIES ON STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN CHEMISTRY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWKA SOUTH LGA.

This study investigated the Availability and usage of well-equipped laboratories on students’ interest in chemistry in secondary schools in Awka South LGA. The design of this research is a descriptive research design. Four research questions guided the study. The instrument used in this research work for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The population of the study consisted of the 1061 senior secondary school two (SS 2) students from the 18 public secondary schools in Awka South LGA. The sample size for the study consisted of one hundred and eighty (180) students drawn from six (6) sampled schools in Awka South LGA. The instrument was administered to the respondents and the results were analyzed using mean. The findings of the study showed that well-equipped Chemistry laboratories are available and used to a high extent in secondary schools in Awka South LGA. Availability and Usage of well-equipped chemistry laboratories enhances students’ interest in chemistry. Based on the findings, it was recommended that efforts should be made to improve the availability and accessibility of well-equipped laboratories in secondary schools, enhance laboratory safety and maintenance, keep an inventory of all the functional and non-functional facilities ensuring that they are always made available, connect chemistry concepts taught in the laboratory to real-world applications and highlight the relevance of chemistry in various careers and industries.