Research On The Current Situation Of Chemical Experiment Education In Higher Education In Pakistan And Yemen

Chemistry Laboratory is of great importance for students major in chemistry,where they will developing science process skills that are useful for their future careers.In addition,the Chemistry laboratory offers opportunities to learn skills beyond chemistry books,such as teamwork,use scientific instruments appropriately,and problem-solving.Despite the importance of chemistry laboratories,there is a big difference between chemical laboratories’ practice and theoretical studies.Research evidence shows that chemistry performance weakness is due to conceptual difficulties in the theoretical part and weak laboratory work in chemistry.Previous studies have suggested the laboratory work needs more studies that discuss the relationship between educational activities and students’ learning in a different locale.This study aimed to identify the reality of the chemistry laboratories’ usage in teaching chemistry in four universities in Pakistan and Yemen.We used the descriptive-analytical method to analyses data.The study community consisted of undergraduate students in Sana’a University and Thamar University from Yemen,as well as the Islamia University of Bahawalpur,and Bahaudin Zikraya University(BZU Multan)from Pakistan,whereby 106 male and female students from Yemen and 66 male and female students from Pakistan participated.The questionnaire was used to collect data and was distributed to a random sample of 172 male and female students from the previously mentioned universities.Findings revealed that: Many undergraduate students did not use laboratories as expected,instead,most of them attend the practical lessons without individual work due to the lack of devices and instruments.Despite that,there is complete contentment among the students by the necessity of using the chemistry laboratories.However,many obstacles militate against the use of chemistry laboratories in teaching chemistry.Therefore,this study seeks to characterize undergraduate students’ working difficulties for their chemistry laboratory,the possible reasons for these difficulties,and various hypotheses in the study.The student perceptions about laboratory experiences might offer solutions/suggestion which will help to develop laboratory instruction.In Pakistan and Yemen,laboratory work is not well organized.The overall goal is to enhance laboratory learning in both countries.This study concludes that students face common obstacles in the chemistry laboratory,such as limitation of laboratory equipment and working time in the lab,the curriculum and teaching methods are not suitable with student-level.Furthermore,this study showed no significant differences and relationships between laboratory experiment work and students’ confidence.But,it confirmed the relationship between the time the student spends on laboratory work and improvement in understanding lectures.Hence,insufficient chemistry laboratory affects student’s understanding of chemistry.