Undergraduate Thesis Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Biological Science
University of Rizal System, Rodriguez, Rizal 2010

This study aimed to determine the adequacy level of laboratory tools in selected public schools of Rodriguez, Rizal as perceived by the respondents.

The subject of the study pertained to the laboratory rooms of some public schools in the Municipality of Rodriguez where the respondent were the laboratory-in-charge of each selected schools. The researchers used frequency and percentage to get the profile of the laboratory rooms of the selected public schools of Rodriguez, Rizal. The ANOVA or f-test was used for the significant difference in the profile of the science laboratories of the selected public schools of Rodriguez, Rizal as to the adequacy level of the laboratory tools. With regard to the profile of the schools in terms of laboratory apparatus, the most frequent are the alcohol lamp, beaker, erlenmeyer flask, evaporating dish, protractor, spatula, stirring rod, test tube brush, test tube holder, test tube rack, test tube, thermometer, tripod with the frequency of 5 or 3.07% while the less frequent is the gas burner with the frequency of 2 of 1.23%. In terms of laboratory chemicals, 4 or 12.5% have baking soda and sulfur powder, 3 or 9.38% of acetone, activated carbon, HCl, iodine solution; 2 or 6.25% have boric acid, calcium chloride, potassium iodine, vegetable oil, yeast powder and zinc chloride. In terms of laboratory equipment, 3 or 12% have goggles and 2 or 8% have chemical resistant aprons, face shield, faucet, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, fume hoods, gloves, hand washing basin, laboratory cart, ladder and sink. The computed p- value in terms of laboratory apparatus was 0.758, which is greater than the tabular value 0.05 level of significance, so the null hypothesis failed to be rejected. In terms of laboratory chemicals since the computed p-value is 0.000 which is less than the tabular value of 0.05 level of significance, the null hypothesis was rejected. In terms of laboratory equipments since the computed p-value is 0.032 which is less than the tabular value of 0.05 level of significance, the null hypothesis was rejected.

Based from the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: The most common laboratory apparatus among the subject schools are the following: alcohol lamp, beaker, erlenmeyer flask, evaporating dish, protractor, spatula, stirring rod, test tube brush, test tube holder, test tube rack, test tube, thermometer and tripod. The least occurring laboratory apparatus on the subject schools is the gas burner. The most commonly laboratory chemical among the subject schools are the following: boric acid, calcium chloride, potassium iodine, vegetable oil, yeast powder and zinc chloride. The least occurring laboratory chemical on the subject schools are the following: baking soda and sulfur powder. The most commonly laboratory equipment on the subject schools are the following: chemical resistant aprons, face shield, faucet, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, fume hoods, gloves, hand washing basin, lab cart, ladder and sink. The least occurring laboratory equipment on the subject schools are goggles as perceived by the respondents.

The result showed that the subject schools in terms of laboratory apparatus, chemicals and equipment were inadequate as perceived by the respondents.

The result showed that the subject schools were inadequate in terms of laboratory apparatus while in terms of laboratory chemicals and equipment the respondents differed in their perceptions.

From the conclusion, the following recommendations are posed: Department of Education should give more importance to the adequacy of laboratory tools in all public schools. Local government should cooperate with the Department of Education on how they can sustain the necessities of Science laboratories. School Administration should give more focus or attention to the needs of students regarding the science subject, especially in experimentation.