Evaluation Of Academic Performance Of Junior Secondary Schools Students In Basic Science And Technology

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the students academic performance of universal basic schools in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

The study adopted descriptive research design, the population for this study consisted teachers of all basic schools selected. Ten junior secondary school teachers were selected in sampled school using proportional sampling techniques. Research instrument used was profoma which indicated the performance of student in English language and Mathematics of  basic schools between year 2014 t0 2016 academic years.

Two research questions were raised in this study and analysed with percentage while hypotheses generated were tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 level of significance.

Findings revealed that there was significant relationship between basic science and students academic performance in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state..

On the basis of findings, it was recommended that government should  establish a policy which would control number of student in the class in order to improve teacher’s job performance of the school should be manageable and commensurate with available resources while existing vacancy should be determinant factors of the numbers of children to be adminitted and placed on school enrollment  in each school.

TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE                                                                                                  i

CERTIFICATION                                                                                          ii

DEDICATION                                                                                                           iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT                                                                             iv

ABSTRACT                                                                                                   vi

TABLE OF CONTENT                                                                                 vii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION                                                                                         1

Background to the Study                                                                         1

Statement of Problem                                                                              8

Purpose of the Study                                                                                9

Research Questions                                                                                               10

Research Hypotheses                                                                                10

Main Hypotheses                                                                                       11

Operational Hypothesis                                                                                       11

Scope of the Study                                                                                                11

Significance of the Study                                                                         12

Operational Definition of Terms                                                            14

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review                                                                                       15

Concept of Universal Education                                                 15

Concept of School Population                                                                18

Factors Affecting School Population                                                    22

Effects of school Population                                                                   25

Concept of students’ Academic Performance                                   28

Appraisal of Literature Reviewed                                                          31

CHAPTER THREE

Research Design                                                                                         33

Population Sample and Sampling Techniques                                   34

Instrumentation                                                                                         34

Procedure for Data Collection                                                                36

Method of Data Analysis                                                                          36

CHAPTER FOUR

Hypotheses Testing                                                                                               42

Operational Hypotheses                                                                          43

CHAPTER FIVE

Conclusion                                                                                                   48

Recommendations                                                                                     49

REFERENCES                                                                                                            50

QUESTIONNAIRE                                                                                        55

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                           BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Basic education is the bedrock of any meaningful and result oriented educational system. Hence, the priority and attention it draws from successive governments in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized. In the missionary and colonial era, education was effectively utilized as an instrument of evangelism and administration which was attained through the 3- R curriculum i.e (Arithmetic, writing and religion). According to Fafunwa (1998), the curriculum was reviewed and implemented through ordinances in line with the prevailing change and uniformity. Nigeria at independence inherited education handed down by the colonial masters as well as the Christian missionaries (Babarinde, 2005 and Adaralegbe 2002).

According to Babarinde (2005) and Adaralegbe (2002), the school curriculum (primary to tertiary) needed reform in order to build a more realistic, virile and united country after the devastating civil war, prior to Nigeria independence, education during missionaries, was received with conditionality which included conversion to christianity among others and this singularly deprived children or other faithful of western education. In summary, only children and wards of the christian converted for the low enrolment in the schools for fear of Christianization and westernization. Although, the involvement of colonial administration in the establishment and funding of schools brought succor to the needy children as they head access to western education, teaming number of parent still expressed mixed feeding and fears about their faith being marginalized and suppressed by the european religion.

This scenario of low enrolment in schools in both cities and rural areas of country continued unabated with the eventual exist of the colonial masters and indigenization of political administration in educational system. According to Fafunwa (2006), the successive military government (1966-1979), intensified effort through several sensitization programmes and policies to improve enrolment in school. Fafunwa (2006) reported that free primary education programmes established in the defunct western region was replicated in some states in northern Nigeria by providing school uniforms, textbooks and exercise books, powder milk and some other school essentials in order to attract school age children to school. Similarly, (Ijaiya 2013) in educational lecture class observed that the strategy of free education in primary and post primary schools increased enrolment in the schools dramatically.

In furtherance of the United Nations declaration on literacy, Nigerian government pursued vigorously and funded primary education through the introduction of Universal Primary Education (U.P.E) in 1976 under the leadership of General Olusegun Obasanjo of primary schools in nearly all communities in the country and supported with coordinated campaigns, jingles and consultation, the enrolment in primary schools increased geometrically. Adeshina (1986) reported that the enrolment in primary schools in Nigeria rose from over a million to over twelve million pupils in 1976 when Universal Primary Education program brought all school age children to school. He also concluded that the period was the beginning of a new era in school enrolment in Nigeria.

Although, Universal Primary Education and its flows was one of the gigantic educational program of the century, and remains as a remarkable and giant stride that overturned the fortune of the industry. Bolajoko (2001) remarked that inadequate planning, over bloated data and corruption are some of the factors that contributed to the short comings of the program and concluded that its contributions to educational development remain memorable.

Annually, millions of Nigeria children enrolled in schools and school patronage yearly in line with the annual increase in the country population. Nigeria with a population of over 150 million and annual projection of 2.2% , the country’s infrastructures including schools will continue to over stretched today, the demand for education (primary tertiary) is increasing and grossly inadequate to meet the yearning of Nigeria. Although, the involvement of private organization and administration and individual in the establishment, funding and administration of school have immense impacts on provision of education for needy children but private schools exorbitant fees and charges deprive sizeable number of children from patronizing them. Therefore, the exiting government owned primary schools where minimal fees are paid, record high patronage and subsequent over-stretching of the facilities.

Adeshina (2004) emphasizes that the issue of over population dates back to 1980s and early 1990 and several attempts were made to check the escalating enrolment to the public school in Nigeria, and these strategies varied form states. In some metropolitan cities and towns like Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin etc. more schools were established and sited in a strategic areas in order to de – congest the existing one (Adegunduro, 1998 and Salami, 2001). According to them critics opined that although the infrastructures like classrooms were far below standard, the over populated schools were decongested which was the primary objectives of establishing the schools.

Similarly, Fashiku (2006) reported that some states in the country introduced shifting system to minimize the menace of overpopulation and this policy allowed school to operate morning and afternoon section. According to him, the number of hours spent in school was reduce order to accommodate the afternoon classes designed to cater for other arms and classes stated for the section. Also the critics and opinions it did not spare the policy and conducted that attention span of children is low in the afternoon which may result in poor academic performance.

Successive government in the affected states including Kwara abolished shifting system, and established more schools built new classrooms and rehabilitated dilapidated one and also employ more teachers as an alternative to minimize over population in schools (Abdullah, 2004). The government’s strides according to him reduce congestions in schools and learning condition improved considerably. This has also led to the creation of school A and B that we have in our primary school today.

However, there are still schools with high population while some have manageable size depending on the location of the schools. The school in the towns may still record high enrolment in the towns may still record high enrolment in view of rural-urban drift while those in rural area contend with low enrolment. The school enrolment, no doubt have immense impacts on the school lone including teachers productivity, pupils academic performance, class management etc. hence the government annual budget committed to upgrading the infrastructures in school is desirable, it is on this not therefore that this study attempts to examine school pupils academic performance vis a vis Basic school pupils in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

1.2                                              STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

It is observed that academic performance of students of basic schools is decreasing as a result of unqualified and incompetent teachers, in appropriate classroom management the size of class enrolment also contributed to the decreasing performance of pupils/students and these can be curs when competent teachers are introduced, when manageable class size are available in the context studies such as Salami  (2001) and Ijaiya (2007) have carried out teacher productivity which concluded  that manageable class size are more effective in their professional duties than those with large class size but none of them have carried a study on the students academic performance of basic schools in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

1.3                                                PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of the study is to examine students academic performance of universal basic schools in ifelodun local government area, Ilorin kwara state.

Specifically the purposes are;

1. To investigate the academic performances in the selected universal basic schools in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.
2. To investigate the relationship between the students in basic science and their academic performance in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.
3. To find out the influence of teachers qualifications and studies          academic performance of universal basic schools in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

1.4                                                  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What is the students’ academic performance in Ilorin South
• What is the level of pupils enrolment in schools in ifelodun local government area, Ilorin kwara state.

1.5                                                RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses are formulated to guide the study

Main Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significant relationship between basic science and their academic performance in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

Operational Hypothesis  

Ho₁: There is no significant relationship between basic science and students academic performance of in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

Ho_2:There is no significant relationship between basic science and students’ academic performance in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

1.6                                                   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study focuses on students’ academic performance of universal basic schools in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state. However, it will be limited to only 10 basic schools out of basic schools in Ilorin South.

The main instruments to be used will be researcher’s designed questionnaire tagged.

1.7                                           SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of the study include but not limited to the following:

It will serve as an eye opener for the curriculum planner on how a befitting basic school curriculum can be formed to cater for the size and population of the students to enhance students academic in Ilorin South

It will also sensitize the government as well as private schools proprietors on the number of students expected in a class so that learning can take place

Not only that they will also be enlightened more on the normal size of class to be erected in schools to cater for the students population in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

This study no doubt will serve as a guide and as an embodied body of knowledge to the upcoming researchers in schools and universities. To cap it all, students of educational department will derive an immeasurable benefit from the findings.

Similarly the findings would assist the government in allocation of fund during the annual budget to required department and agencies. Also school administrators would be            quick in their decision on provision of learning and teaching materials, allocation of teachers to classes and other prevailing issues.

In addition the finding would guide the class and subject teachers in the choice of appropriate teaching approaches depending on the number of students in the class because selection of the effective (pedagogical) steps in prerequisite for effective teaching learning process. Also the learners’ world is informed on the merit and demerits of class population with a view to adapting appropriately to the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, the findings would be an effective tool required by school proprietors to operate a viable and result oriented school system in view of the role of population in achievement drive of institution of learning.

1.8                                   OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Reading: is the act of looking at and comprehending the meaning of (written or printed matter, by interpreting the characters or symbol of which it is composed).
2. Habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice of reading by student in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state., especially one that is hard to give up.

• Performance: is the accomplishment of a given task measured against preset known standards of accuracy, completeness, cost, and speed in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

1. Student: a student or pupil is a learner or someone who attends an educational institution in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.
2. Environment: is the sum total of all surroundings of a student, including natural forces and other living things, which provide conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state..
3. Secondary School: is a high school or a school of corresponding grade, ranking between a primary school and a college or university in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

• Academic Achievement: includes both curricular and co-curricular performance of the students. It indicates the learning outcomes of the students in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state..
• Student: A student of pupil is a learner or someone who attends an educational institution in ifelodun local government area,Ilorin kwara state.

1. Students Academic Performance: This is student’s learning outcome in both English and mathematics in public examination.