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pp. 2139-2152 | Article Number: ijese.2017.144
Published Online: November 27, 2017
Abstract
West African Examination Council’s (WAEC) Chief Examiners for chemistry have observed that most Senior High School students exhibit poor mastery of concepts in organic chemistry. The Chief Examiners recommended that chemistry teachers start teaching organic chemistry early and give more practice questions to students. In order understand the challenges students have, regarding the organic chemistry, the study aimed at finding out what students say about teaching and learning organic chemistry in Senior High Schools in Ghana. The survey employed a mixed methods approach to seek the views of students on the organic chemistry aspect of the Senior High School chemistry syllabus. The population for the study was 348 students. The students were, science and mathematics students at Foso College of education, level 100 students at the faculty of Science and the Department of Science and Mathematics Education at University of Cape Coast and students attending remedial classes at Secondi/Takoradi Metropolis. The sample consisted of 32 remedial students at Secondi/Takoradi Metropolis, 132 Mathematics and Science students at Foso College of Education, Assin Foso, and 71 level 100 students in the faculty of Science and the Department of Science and Mathematics Education of University of Cape Coast. Two instruments were used to collect data from the sample. The instruments were a focus group interview schedule, which was used to collect qualitative data, and a Senior High School Organic Chemistry Perception Assessment Tool. The students said, though they have a negative perception about organic chemistry aspect of the Senior High School chemistry syllabus, organic chemistry does not make them nervous nor bored, because they find organic chemistry interesting. They are also said they want to study organic chemistry, and even do it on their own, not for the reason of passing exams but for life. However, teachers’ ill affinity towards organic chemistry seriously affected their understanding of organic chemistry. Chemistry teachers would have to understand organic chemistry and see the organic chemistry aspect of the Senior High School chemistry syllabus as an essential component of chemistry education, if they want their students to learn organic chemistry with ease.
Keywords: learning organic chemistry, teaching organic chemistry, perception, Organic chemistry
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