Factors Influencing the Choice of Chemistry Education as a Course of Study Among Secondary School Students in Niger State

ABSTRACT
This study asses the factors influencing the choice of chemistry education as a course of study among secondary school students Niger state. Four (4) research question were drawn from the objectives which gives a road map to the study. The population of the study comprises of all students offering chemistry in Niger State. The total population of 64,562. Cut across different local government.0ne hundred and fifty (150) students were randomly selected from the population to make the sample. Convenient sampling design was used for the study. The instrument used in data collection was self constructed questionnaire tittled " factors influencing the choice of chemistry education as a course of study among secondary school students Niger State questionnaire. Descriptive statistic of percentage were used to analyzed the data collected from the questionnaire. To ensure the validity of the instrument the researcher constructs the questionnaire for the study and submitted to the project supervisor who examined the instruments in terms of relevance of the contents and statements and then made observations, correction and input which led to the final copy used. The reliability of the research instrument was determined using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) to determine the reliability of the instrument. A co-efficient value of 0.69 was obtained, this indicated that the research instrument was relatively reliable. The findings of the study revealed that there are some factors that influence the choice of chemistry education as a course of study among secondary school students The study recommended that self concepts and confidence are important for choice of a subject, students should be encouraged to develop positive self-concepts from early childhood. Chemistry teachers should, at all times, strive to convince all students that Chemistry is meant for them and they can learn and pass Chemistry. Such motivation and words of encouragement from teachers can develop positive self-concepts within individuals and thus encourage them to choose Chemistry. The study also recommends that Chemistry should be introduced to students much earlier in schools, probably starting from primary education level. This early introduction of Chemistry will expose pupils to scientific principles at an early age and as such, they will have a better background exposure to Chemistry. Hence, such pupils will most probably do well in Chemistry and they will also be encouraged and motivated to do Chemistry at secondary school and at tertiary levels