The Relationship between Gender and Attitudes of Students towards Chemistry in Secondary Schools in Bureti District, Kenya
Keywords:
Relationship,, Gender,, Attitudes,, Students,, Chemistry,, Secondary SchoolsAbstract
The aim of this paper is to highlight and discuss the role played by gender in shaping attitudes towards Chemistry subject in secondary schools in Kenya. The paper is based on a study conducted in Bureti District of Kericho County. The main focus of the paper is to gauge the level of performance among girls in Chemistry subject, to compare boys‘ and girls‘ performance and show how girls could perform better, to assess the self- confidence level of girls in Chemistry and to give a general overview of the relationship between gender and attitudes towards Chemistry. The research employed a descriptive survey design. The target population comprised Form Four students in ten selected secondary schools in Bureti District of Rift Valley Province Kenya. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the study sample. Schools were selected from the following categories: Girls schools, Boys schools and Co-educational schools. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents from Form four classes as well as a teacher in each school. In all, one hundred and eighty-nine students and ten teachers filled the questionnaires. The data collection instruments were questionnaires based on the Likert-scale and document analysis. Data was analyzed descriptively using frequency tables, means and percentages while hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance. The results showed a significant relationship between gender and the attitude of students towards Chemistry. Further-more, it was noted that self-concept of ability is a possible cause of academic achievement. Science teachers‘ should encourage development of positive self-concept of ability among students. Among other recommendations, the report suggests that guidance and counselling of students in schools should be encouraged, to ensure positive attitudes towards and full participation by girls in, the subject. The study will help to bridge the gap between girls and boys in co-educational schools.
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