Abstract:
Organic qualitative analysis is one of the challenging chemical concept in the
teaching and learning of chemistry. The West African Examinations Council
(WAEC) Chemistry Chief Examiners for years, have lamented on students‟
poor performance in organic qualitative analysis at the senior high school
level. This study, therefore, investigated chemistry teachers‟ and students‟
conceptual understanding of organic qualitative analysis. A sequential
explanatory mixed methods design was used to collect both quantitative and
qualitative data from 263 SHS 3 students and 47 teachers from six public
schools in Central Region. The teachers and students were selected through
multistage sampling technique. Diagnostic test, interviews, and observation
checklist were used to collect data from the participants. Data was analysed
using percentages, means, standard deviations, independent-samples t-test,
and themes. The results from the study showed that teachers demonstrated
partial level of conceptual understanding and their students demonstrated no
scientific understanding on organic qualitative analysis. It is, therefore,
recommended that the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education
Service should liaise with teacher education universities to organise short
courses for teachers to help them upgrade their content knowledge in
chemistry.
