PERCEPTION OF SSS CHEMISTRY STUDENT’S DIFFICULTIES IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY A CASE OF GWALE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

This research was carried out with the aims of studying the perception of senior secondary school chemistry students’ difficulties in organic chemistry, a case study of Gwale Local Government Area which can be achieved through the following objectives: Assess the overall perception of senior secondary school chemistry students in Gwale regarding the difficulty of organic chemistry, identify specific challenges faced by senior secondary school chemistry students in Gwale when studying organic chemistry, explore potential factors influencing the perception of difficulty in organic chemistry among senior secondary school students in Gwale. The process of this study: 350 (70%) of the 500 student-participants agree or strongly agree with the statement that ‘Organic Chemistry is a difficult subject’ and 150 (30%) of them disagreed in SS1; 300 (68%) of the 450 student-participants agreed or strongly agreed while 150 (33%) disagreed in SS2 students; and 250 (63%) of the 400 student-participants agreed or strongly agreed while 150 (37%) disagreed in SS3 students with the statement that ‘Organic Chemistry is a difficult subject and organic chemistry is a concept which is very easy to understand and solve Organic Chemistry problems’. This shows that Organic Chemistry is a difficult subject for students to comprehend. The challenges faced by the respondents (students): In SS1, out of 700 students, 400 (57.1%) are understanding organic chemistry while 300 (42.9%) are non-understanding; in SS2, out of 500 students, 350 (70%) are understanding while 150 (30%) are non-understanding; in SS3, out of 450 students, 200 (44.4%) are understanding while 250 (55.6%) are non-understanding. The factors influencing the respondents: In SS1, out of 700 students, 400 (57.1%) are non-understanding (reasons for failure: naming of organic compounds); in SS2, out of 500 students, 350 (70%) are non-understanding (reasons: naming of isomers); in SS3, out of 450 students, 200 (44.4%) are non-understanding (reasons: organic reactions).