Students perceptions of laboratory work in chemistry at school and college in Pakistan

Students learning experience, their experience of the teacher and teaching and the subject itself all play a very important role information of their attitudes towards the subject. Attitudes affect behaviour, influencing what the learner selects from the environment, how they will react to the teachers, the materials being used and the other students. This paper describes the experience of the students at school and college level with regard to laboratory work in chemistry in Pakistan. A survey was conducted to collect views of BSc first year and second year university students and trainee teachers who have completed their BSc. The objective was to study and compare students ' perceptions of their experience of laboratory work in chemistry at school and college level. Questionnaires were used to collect data. The majority of the students hold positive attitudes towards laboratory work in chemistry and consider it a vital part of the course. There is, however, considerable polarisation of views while the three groups seem to hold similar views. There is a need to improve the quality of laboratory work in chemistry at all levels to make it more organized, open ended and effective. Recommendations are offered, based on what the survey has revealed. The results may be typical of many countries and offer insights into ways forward in making laboratory work more effective and efficient.