THE IMPACT OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION AND ACQUISITION OF EMPLOYABILITY AND PRODUCTION SKILLS: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The study investigated Chemistry graduates’ self-perceived extent of possession of employability and production skills acquired and employability skill development opportunities they were exposed to during the course of their studies in chemistry education. The research design was survey. Four research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. One hundred and twenty-seven (127 (80 males, 47 females) 2020 Batch A Corp members posted to Anambra state made up the sample for the study. Four instruments namely: Employability Skill Assessment Questionnaire (ESAQ), Employability Skill Development Exposure (ESDE), Chemical Products Production Skill Survey (CPPSS) and Teaching Strategies Applied (TSA) were used for data collection. The instruments were adapted from Muo (2016), University of Oregun 2018 Employability Skill Survey, and Orji (2013) scales, modified and tested for reliability using Cronbach alpha and the reliability coefficient obtained are 0.82 and 0.89 respectively for ESAQ and ESDE. Frequencies, percentages mean scores and standard deviation were used to analyze and interpret data obtained. The result of the study showed that, the Chemistry graduates do not possess employability skill as well as the production skills for some common chemical products. The graduates were not sufficiently exposed to employment skill development opportunities and finally, the lecture method was mostly applied by their lecturers and in all the aspects investigated, gender had no influence. The findings were discussed which informed the recommendations made. Chemistry Education, Acquisition, Employability, Production Skills

TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page- - - - - - - - - i
Approval page - - - - - - - -ii
Dedication - - - - - - - - -iii
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - -iv
Abstract - - - - - - - - - -v
Table of content - - - - - - - -vi

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - -1
1.0 Background of the study - - - - -1
1.1 Statement of the problem - - - - -5
1.2 Purpose of the study - - - - - -6
1.3 Significance of the study - - - - -8
1.4 Research questions - - - - - -9
1.5 Scope of the study - - - - - - -10

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW - - - - - - -11

CHAPTER THREE

Research methodology - - - - - - -39
Design of study - - - - - - - -40
Area of study - - - - - - - - -40
Population of the study - - - - - - -41
Sample and sampling techniques - - - - -41
Instrument for data collection - - - - -41
Method of data collection - - - - - -42
Method of data analysis - - - - - - -43

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data - -48
Discussion of findings - - - - - - -56

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary of findings - - - - - - -60
Conclusion - - - - - - - - -61
Recommendations - - - - - - - -62
Suggestions for further research - - - - -64
References - - - - - - - - -65
Appendix I - - - - -- - - - -68
Questionnaire. - - - - - - - -69

THE IMPACT OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION AND ACQUISITION OF EMPLOYABILITY AND PRODUCTION SKILLS: A CASE STUDY