Availability and Utilization of Laboratory Facilities as Correlates of Performance in Chemistry among Secondary School Students in Giwa Educational Zone, Kaduna State

The study investigated Correlation between availability and utilization of Laboratory facilities on performance in chemistry among secondary school students in Giwa Educational Zone, Kaduna State” The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consists of all senior secondary school class two (SS 2) Chemistry students during the 2023/2024 academic session in Giwa educational zone. A sample size of two hundred and sixty-two (262) respondents were randomly selected from the target population. Chemistry Student Questionnaires (CSQ), Chemistry teachers Questionnaires (CTQ) and School administrators Questionnaires (SAQ) were adopted and validated by experts. They were found to have reliability coefficient of 0.78, 0.80 and 0.85 respectively. Three research objectives, with corresponding research questions and hypotheses were raised and tested at p≤ 0.05 level of significance. Data collected were analysed using Frequency and percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). the result revealed that significant relationship exist between the availability of chemistry laboratory facilities, adequacy of chemistry laboratory facilities, level of utilization of chemistry laboratory facilities, chemistry teachers’ qualifications ,number of chemistry teachers and academic performance in Chemistry among secondary school students in Giwa Education zone, Kaduna State. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that the utilization of chemistry practical in senior secondary schools is faced with problems ranging from poor teaching personnel in terms of qualification and adequacy, poor level of priority given to practical work by chemistry teachers to the non-availability of space, equipment and apparatus for practical work. it was recommended among others that Chemistry laboratory facilities should be made available in all secondary schools in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Keywords: Academic performance, Laboratory facilities, Chemistry