ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICAL LITERACY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN FOUR DEPARTMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Abstract

The Nigerian chemistry curriculum at the senior secondary school is
designed to provide a complete course for students not proceeding to
higher education, while also providing a reasonably adequate
foundation for a post-secondary school chemistry course, among
other objectives. This objective aims to develop learners' chemical
literacy, irrespective of their future careers. The assessment of this
objective's attainment has rarely been carried out. This study
assessed the chemical literacy among university undergraduates
who offered chemistry at the senior secondary school and were
currently studying medical and engineering-based courses. A
descriptive survey approach was employed, and data were collected
from 200 students across the four departments from 100 and 400 level
student using a Chemical Literacy Assessment Test (CLAT). The
findings showed that the chemistry curriculum objectives related to
chemical literacy have been partially achieved, as the respondents'
chemical literacy level was below average. Also, there was a
significant decline in chemical literacy as students advanced in their
education and moved farther from chemistry as a course of study. It
was recommended that efforts must be taken to ensure that students
exposed to secondary school chemistry curriculum are able to apply
the concepts learnt over a long time.