INFLUENCE OF LABORATORY FACILITIES ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CHEMISTRY IN IKOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract The study examined the influence of Laboratory facilities on students' academic achievement in Chemistry in Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State. The independent variables examine were; availability of laboratory facilities, accessibility of laboratory facilities and utilization of laboratory facilities while dependent variable is students' academic achievement in Chemistry. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research questions and three research hypotheses were posed and formulated respectively to guide the study. Literature was reviewed based on the variables in the study. The research design was adopted for this study was Ex-post facto design. Two hundred (200) SS2 students who offered Chemistry in public secondary schools were randomly selected for this study. The instrument used for data collection was a 18-item questionnaire named Influence of Laboratory Facilities on Students' Academic Achievement in Chemistry Questionnaire (ILFSAACQ) constructed by the researcher. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient-test statistic was used as statistical tool for data analysis. Each of the hypotheses was tested at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between availability of laboratory facilities, accessibility of laboratory facilities, utilization of laboratory facilities and academic achievement of SS II Chemistry students in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that, there is the need for the development of positive attitudes by the teacher toward the use of laboratory facilities for their instruction. This will encourage the development of their proficiency. Keyword: Laboratory facilities, academic achievement, Chemistry, teaching, learning.