EFFECTS OF LABORATORY ACTIVITIES ON STUDENT INTEREST IN CHEMISTRY AND ACQUISITION OF EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS IN NASSARAWA SECONDARY SCHOOL,KANO,NIGERIA

This rescarch investigates the effects of laboratory activities on secondary school students'interest in chemistry and their acquisition of employability skills in the Nassarawa Secondary Education Zone. The study identifies the role of hands-on laboratory experiences in fostering interest, engagement, and essential skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. Utilizing a quantitative research design with data collected from The questionnaire responses are entered into a spreadsheet and the data is imported to the SPSS. The data was clean and organize as needed. It was ensured that the response options are correctly coded (e.g., "SA"=1,〖^n〗A^''=2,"D"=3,"SD"=4). The SPSS was used to calculate descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages for each response option for each question. Based on the research questions and the type of data, APOVA is selected as statistical tests using SPSS. the study reveals High interest in chemistry among students is fostered by practical laboratory activities.laboratory sessions significantly enhance understanding and engagement in chemistry.Employability skills such as teamwork and problem-solving are developed through laboratory activities.The research highlights the need for better laboratory facilities and teacher training to maximize students' learning experiences. Keywords: Laboratory Activities, Student Interest, Chemistry, Employability Skills, Nassarawa Education Zone.