The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors affecting the use of practical work in
teaching and learning chemistry in public secondary schools in Dagoretti Sub-County, Nairobi
County, Kenya. The study was guided by these objectives: To determine the extent of use of
practical work in teaching and learning chemistry in public secondary school, to assess students’
attitude towards chemistry practical work in public secondary schools, and to establish availability
of chemistry facilities and their use in the chemistry practical work in public secondary schools.
The study was grounded on David Kolb experiential learning theory. A descriptive survey
research design was used, and a quantitative approach was adopted during data analysis. The study
used a sample of 123 respondents comprising of 119 Form Three and Four students, and 4 teachers
drawn from public secondary schools in Dagoretti Sub-County, Nairobi. Statistical Package for
Social Science (SPSS version 28) was used to analyze the data collected from the target population.
The findings of this study indicated that the use of practical work depended on the availability of
the laboratory in the school and the presence of the laboratory technicians. It showed that student’
and teachers attitude was of great importance on the use of chemistry practical work in the process
of teaching and learning chemistry. The study further disclosed that laboratories were present in
schools yet were not used adequately due to lack of adequate apparatus. Furthermore, the time
provided for the practical lessons seemed to be enough yet the respondents demanded for more
time. The study recommends that students should be encouraged to develop positive attitudes
towards chemistry subjects. Chemistry teachers should use modern methods of teaching, such as
the use of computers, to motivate and sustain students' interest in chemistry.