FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOW ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION

Abstract

This research work is a survey of Factors Responsible for low Enrolment of Student in Chemistry Education in Enugu State. It aims at finding out the various factors responsible for low enrolment of students in chemistry education in colleges of education in Nigeria. Five (5) research questions were raised. Data were collected using questionnaire which were distributed randomly among students and lecturers from two government owned colleges of education and one private college of education in Enugu state. The data collected were analyzed using mean and percentage statistics. 2.5 was adopted as the criterion mean and item whose mean value is less than this value was unaccepted and that beyond this value was accepted. Also a criterion percentage of 50 were established for analyzing teachers’ responds. The findings indicated that the factors responsible for low enrolment in chemistry education in colleges of education in Enugu State are parental influence, peer group influence, Poor background knowledge of students in chemistry and social value attached to chemistry. It was recommended that parents and guardians should not enforce courses on their wards, School guidance and counselor should be made to organize regular career guidance to students, teachers salaries should be paid regularly, parent and guardians should monitor their little ones interest and ability before enrolling into institution of higher learning, only qualified teachers should be employed to teach chemistry in secondary school were the foundation of chemistry is laid, chemistry laboratories should be well equipped, Science education inspector in both state and federal government should pay regular visits to the schools as this will help both the teachers and their students to work harder.