INVESTIGATING CHEMISTRY UNDERGRADUATE PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS INTEGRATION OF GREEN CHEMISTRY PRINCIPLES INTO SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM. A CASE STUDY OF ONDO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ABSRACT All over the world today, it is expedient to educate individuals who would also become responsible citizens who make decisions that involve applications of chemistry to solve pressing environmental problems through the knowledge of Green Chemistry. The important of integrating green chemistry throughout the different levels of education cannot be over-emphasised, as it is essential for creating a workforce and public that is well informed on the importance and the benefits of sustainable development. This study investigated chemistry undergraduates perception and attitude towards integrating green chemistry into Nigerian senior school chemistry curriculum using Ondo West L.G.A as a case study. 40 chemistry undergraduates selected from some Institutions in Ondo West L.G.A using convenience sampling technique formed the sample for the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design using Perception and Attitude of Chemistry Undergraduate towards Integrating Green Chemistry Principles Questionnaire (PACUIGCPQ) to obtained information to answer and test research questions raised and the formulated hypotheses respectively. The data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation, simple percentage and T-test statistical tools. The study revealed that the chemistry undergraduate are of the view that GC should be integrated into chemistry curriculum and they also indicated positive attitude towards its integration. The findings also show that their perception and attitude are not influenced by gender. Based on these findings, it was recommended that green chemistry concepts should be incorporated into secondary school chemistry curriculum. And in-service training, seminars/workshops/conferences should be organised for chemistry undergraduate for capacity building on Green Chemistry education while it is also necessary to incorporate GC into teacher education curricula so as to prepare the pre-service chemistry undergraduate for the future teaching with environmental sustainability consciousness.