ABSTRACT
The
topic of the study is factors militating against academic performance in
government among senior secondary school in Enugu East local government. The
study was motivated by the alarming rate at which secondary school students
were rejecting offering government in preference of other school subject in
Enugu east Local Government Area of Enugu State. The purpose of the study is to
identify these factors militating against the poor academic performance of
students within this Enugu east local government, comparison was made with high
achieving school within the same area. The study was carded out using a
descriptive survey research method. The area of the study was Enugu East Local
Government Area. The population of the study is 3000 students
and 67 teachers which
comprises the secondary schools in the Enugu East Local Government Area. The
simple size used for the study was (240) respondent. The Data for the study was
collected from primary source using questionnaires as instrument for collection
and was analyzed using simple' percentage. The
following findings were made in this study: Home conditions or parental support variables contribute in causing students to perform poorly academically, low level of interaction with children's teachers, low involvement in the parent teacher association, lack of adequate instructional materials to teach the subject government, lack of good infrastructures for conducive learning, unqualified teachers and student lifestyle like truancy. Recommendation of the finding: it was recommended among others that there is the need to improve parents "attitude, intensify supervision of teachers". Building of good school building for adequate learning of government to yield good performance of the students.
following findings were made in this study: Home conditions or parental support variables contribute in causing students to perform poorly academically, low level of interaction with children's teachers, low involvement in the parent teacher association, lack of adequate instructional materials to teach the subject government, lack of good infrastructures for conducive learning, unqualified teachers and student lifestyle like truancy. Recommendation of the finding: it was recommended among others that there is the need to improve parents "attitude, intensify supervision of teachers". Building of good school building for adequate learning of government to yield good performance of the students.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study
Undoubtedly, education is the key to
economic and technological advancement, a means of alleviating poverty among
the populace as well as ameliorating their lifestyles. In recognition of this,
the federal Government of Nigeria has through its national Policy on Education
in 1977, 1981, 1998 (and revised in2004) spelt out how education can be
utilized to bring about the necessary transformation.
Admittedly, secondary
schools which is the foundation of the educational system is expected to
produce graduates who should be able to maintain high and sensitive position so
that the laudable objectives can be realized. Sadly enough, in recent time the
products of this citadel of learning can no longer compete favourable with
their counterparts from other parts of the world. The reason for this is not
farfetched. It is simple that the quality of education has fallen. To explain
this point, (Esu in Mba 2018) opined that there is a near national outcry on
the poor quality of Education in Nigeria especially in Enugu east local
government area . Also, commenting on this, it is noted that the scripts of
some students in external exams like WAEC were unreadable and far beyond
comprehension because some students find
it difficult to take notes during teacher and also many are unable to have a
firm grasp of material taught even after repeated explanations by the teacher.
Education is the key to
development and it has the capacity to upgrade teaching effectiveness as well
as learning efficiency among learners. Efforts by have being made by school
administrators to improve the performance of Public secondary school students.
The school environment, which include the classrooms, libraries, technical
workshops, laboratories, teachers’ quality, school management, teaching methods,
peers, etc are variables that affect students’ academic achievement (Ajayi, and
Oluchukwu, in Mba 2018). Hence, the school environment remains an
important area that has to studied and well managed to enhance students’
academic performance.
According to Jam (2009) academic performance is the
ability to study and remember facts and being able to communicate your
knowledge verbally or on paper. In other words, academic performance refers to
how students deal with their studies and how they cope with or accomplish
different tasks given to them by their teachers. Academic performance
generally refers to how well a student is accomplishing his or her tasks or
studies. There are quite a number of factors that determine the level and
quality of students' academic performance. (Scottk, 2002).
According to Hussain (2006) secondary school students in
public schools often come from economically poor and average income families.
These families face various problems causing emotional disturbance among their
children. This singular factor has caused serious damage to the achievement
status to secondary school students.
Achievement is
generally a pedagogical terminology used while determining learners’ success in
formal education and which is measured through reports examinations,
researches, and ratings with numerous factors of variables exerting influence.
Essentially, the National Policy on education (Federal Republic of Nigeria,
2004) has identified school achievement contents according to school subjects which
are classified as core or elective subjects.
Although studies abound on the causative and predictive
nature of factors of study habit on students academic achievement. all factors
or variables tend to focus on poor study habit while the effects are yet to be
fully accessed on the nations educational development.
The issue of poor academic performance of students in Nigeria
has been of much concern to the government, parents, teachers and even student
themselves. The quality of education not only depends on the teachers as
reflected in the performance of their duties, but also in the effective
coordination of the school environment (Ajao 2001). The issue of poor academic
performance of students in Nigeria has been of much concern to all and sundry.
The problem is so much that it has led to the widely acclaimed fallen standard
of education in Delta State and Nigeria at large. The quality of education
depends on the teachers as reflected in the performance of their duties. Over
time pupils’ academic performance in both internal and external examinations
had been used to determine excellence in teachers and teaching (Ajao 2001).
Teachers have been shown to have an important influence on students’ academic
achievement and they also play a crucial role in educational attainment because
the teacher is ultimately responsible for translating policy into action and
principles based on practice during interaction with the students (Afe 2001).
Both teaching and learning depends on teachers: no wonder an effective teacher
has been conceptualized as one who produces desired results in the course of
his duty as a teacher (Uchefuna 2001). Considering governments’ huge investment
in public education, its output in terms of quality of students have been
observed to be unequal with government expenditure.
In Nigeria, there are so many factors influencing the ability
of students to cultivate effective and efficient study habit. Ozmert (2005)
emphasized the importance of environmental influence as a major factor in the
development of students studying habit. In the same vein, Adetunji and Oladeji
(2007) submit that the environment of most children is not conducive for
studying; it is in the light of this that made some parents to prefer their
children to go to boarding school for proper discipline and to inculcate better
reading habit.
The development of any
nation or community largely depends upon the quality of education available to
its citizens. It is generally believed that the basis for any true development
must commence with the development of human resources. Hence, formal education
remains the vehicle for socio-economic development and social mobilization in
any society. Secondary education is the foundation on which further education
is built. Secondary education has two (2) main purposes. The first purpose is
to produce a literate and numerate population that can jointly deal with
problems both at home and work. It also serves as a foundation on which further
education is built (Akanle, 2013).
Poor academic performance of secondary school
student has been on the increase in both in internal and external examination.
Okeye (2009) defines poor academic performance of the individual or candidate
in a learning situation as one in which a candidate fails to attain a set
standard of performance in a given evaluation exercise such as test,
examination or series of continuous assessment. Usually, that standard is based
on a number of stipulated objectives and other school activities. A candidate
who scores less or below the standard I regarded as showing a poor academic
performance in school. Some people blame students themselves and others blame
government while, others blame teachers. That is why Nwana (2010) stated that
one may hear elderly parents, retired
civil servants and persons say that school leavers of nowadays are not able to
speak correct and fluent English, they cannot solve simple arithmetic problem
and they do not know their basic time tables.
Teachers, students, parents/ and ministry of
education, science and technology have different factors that contribute the
rapid growth of poor academic performance in schools today. For instance teachers perceive the following
as causes of poor performance; non use of verbal reinforcement, poor attendance
to lesson, poor method of teaching, teacher work load, emotional problems,
study habits, teachers consultation, poor interpersonal relationship, self
esteem and motivation orientation. While students perceive the following causes
of poor performance; low motivation, students effort, abilities and traits and
role perception. Parents perceived low income, illiteracy, nutrition type of
discipline at home, lack of role model, finance, poor parenting and poor
teaching as causes of poor performance. Finally, the ministry of education
perceives the following as a cause of poor performance; attitude of teachers to
their work, poor methods of teaching, poor attendance to lesson, performance
failure to offer guidance and counseling to students poor management. This
became an issue of concern to the researcher and it prompted a research on
factors contributing to poor academic performance in government among senior
secondary school in Enugu east local government area.
Poor academic performance according to Aremu (2003) is
a performance that is adjudged by the examine/testee and some other significant
as falling below an expected standard. Poor academic performance has been
observed in school subjects especially Mathematics and English language among
primary school pupils (Adesemowo, 2005). Aremu (2000) stresses that academic
failure is not only frustrating to the pupils and the parents, its effects are
equally grave on the society in terms of dearth of manpower in all spheres of
the economy and politics.
Education at secondary school level is supposed to be the
bedrock and the foundation towards higher knowledge in tertiary institutions.
It is an investment as well as an instrument that can be used to achieve a more
rapid economic, social, political, technological, scientific and cultural
development in the country. The National Policy on Education (2004) stipulated
that primary education is an instrument for national development that fosters
the worth and development of the individual for further education and development,
general development of the society and equality of educational opportunities to
all Nigerian children irrespective of any real or marginal disabilities.
The role of primary education is to
lay the foundation for further education and if a good foundation is laid at
this level, there are likely to be no problem at subsequent levels. However,
different people at different times have passed the blame of poor performance
in primary school to pupils because of their low retention, parental factors, association
with wrong peers, low achievement, low retention, and the likes (Aremu &
Sokan, 2003; Aremu & Oluwole 2001; Aremu, 2000). Morakinyo (2009) believe
that the falling level of academic achievement is attributable to teacher’s
non-use of verbal reinforcement strategy. Others found out that the attitude of
some teachers to their job is reflected in their poor attendance to lessons,
lateness to school, unsavory comments about pupil’s performance that could
damage their ego, poor method of teaching and the likes affect pupils’ academic
performance.
The
content of Nigeria education must reflect the past present and future of the
dynamic Nigeria society in terms of the roles the individual is expected to
play in the resent modernalization process.
The
Nigeria formal education system is the organized and structured aspect of the
education which takes place within the four walls of the school. It however has to be noted that, all emphasis
in terms of government budgetary allocation and general planning, is usually
placed on formal education. Hence, a
discussion of Nigeria’s educational system is almost synonymous with a
discussion of the formal educational system.
As has been pointed earlier, the formal education system comprises
interrelated sub-system or levels. The
major levels of the Nigerian educational system are primary, secondary, (post
primary), and tertiary (Post Secondary) (Mkpa:2012). Since the introduction of formal education in Nigeria,
various conferences and seminars have been held and Commissions set up to
deliberate on crucial issues in the Nigeria educational system. Of remarkable significance are the National
Curriculum Conference in 1969 which reviewed old, and identified new national
goals for Nigeria’s educational system and the 1973 seminar of distinguished
educational experts and representatives of all segments of the society under
the chairmanship of chief S.O. Adebo which renewed the 1969 paper and made more
recommendations.
Besides the numerous other
recommendations in this respect, recommendations number 8 dealt with the goals
of primary education. It reads thus:
“Specifically, the primary school Curriculum must aim at functional permanent
literacy to ensure better producers and consumers of goods. It should provide a
sound basis for scientific and reflective thinking; inculcate citizenship
education and a sound moral character and attitude development, help
individuals to adapt and a adjust to the changing society, give physical,
emotional and intellectual growth, enhance an individual sense of will power,
creative and innovativeness, develop their mechanical vocational and
manipulative skills and competencies enable them to communicate freely and
effectively through any media, imbibe in them a spirit of self – discipline
(Fafunwa, 1974:233)
This statement however, is the beginning of redirecting
primary education in Nigeria toward a reasonable end, and a way from production
of only church teachers and interpreters. it prompted a research
on factors contributing to poor academic performance in government among senior
secondary school in Enugu east local government area.
Statement of the problem
Some years ago, many graduates from
Enugu East Local Government secondary schools were very sound academically and
were able to excel in various spheres of life; thereby contributing immensely
to the development of the nation.
Presently, the performance of
students at secondary school has dwindled tremendously and the situation has
become worrisome to all stakeholders of education in Enugu East Local
Government Area. Products of our educational system can no longer compete with
graduates from other parts of the world. The increasing nature
of poor academic performance of
secondary school students especially in external examinations like WAEC
or JAMB, tend to shift the blame on the teaching methodology adopted by the
teachers and lack of fund from the government to provide quality textbooks.
However, these might not be the main reasons why students perform poorly in
examinations because it is yet to
gather adequate research evidence to prove that it is a key factor on why
students fail. Emphasizing the importance of school environment to students
academic performance.
Academic performance of students in
secondary schools has received much attention of late in the Nigerian educational system. It is pertinent
to understand that the so – called academic performance of primary school pupil
is a Canker worm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our primary schools
today. However, in environment where
such an ugly situation is found, tention, conflict and anarchy dictate the tone
of relationship between pupils, the teachers for a smooth and effective school
management. Since the end of the Nigeria Biafra Civil War in 1970, academic excellence
has been on the decline. This appears to
be more pronounced in the primary schools.
Poor academic performance has constituted a big problem not only for
schools but the dynamic Nigeria society.
The secondary schools in Enugu East Local Government have been faced
with the problem, which is mostly reflected in common WAEC Results. Millions of Naira being pumped into education
in Nigeria in general and in Enugu State in particular not withstanding this
issue of poor performance in education has continued to persist.
The question therefore is what is
the factor that is responsible for fallen standard and poor academic
performance of students in secondary school? Is the fault entirely that of
teachers or students or both of them? Is it that students of today are
non-achievers because they have low intelligent quotient and a good neutral
mechanism to be able to act purposefully, think rationally and deal effectively
with academic tasks? Or is it because teachers are no longer putting in much
commitment as before? Or is it in
teachers’ method of teaching and interaction with pupils? Or is the poor
performance of students caused by parents’ neglect, separation and poverty?.
This made the research to embark on this research to find the factors militating
against secondary school students academic performance in Enugu East Local
Government.
Purpose
of the Study
This study examines the factors militating
students poor performance in government in secondary school with a particular
reference to Enugu East local Government Area .The specific objectives of this
study are:
1.
To find out the role poor foundational factor
play in students poor academic performance in senior secondary school
2.
To
find out if there are enough qualified Government Teachers in Secondary School
in Enugu East Local Government Area.
3.
Find out the extent of teachers method
of teaching a contributory factor to poor performance in government in the
secondary school in Enugu east local government.
4.
To find out suggested way or solution to
improve students academic performance in the secondary schools.
Significance
of the
Study
This study will be useful to students, researchers, scholars,
educationists, parents, educators and school administration who will use it for
further studies. It is hoped that this study will provide information for
parents, educators and school administrators to reflect upon various factors
that help students in achieving their academic goals. In so doing, they can
investigate the possibility of introducing those factors to their school, which
may consequently lead to enhancing students’ educational outcomes in school.
This study provides a valuable reference for other schools to reflect upon the
school environment as it affect the academic performance of student in
secondary school. It will serve as resource materials for others who want to
carry out research in related field.
This study is very
important to students teachers and professional teachers in the field of
government, the knowledge gained from this study would enable prospective
school administrators, examiners, writers and students to understand various
reasons why students perform poorly academically and find ways of solving the
problems.
This study will help in
finding out the role school environment factors play in student’s poor academic
performance in government in senior secondary school in Enugu east local
government area. It will also help to find out educational administration
issues that contributed to the poor achievement of students in Enugu East local
government.
This study sheds more
light into the causal relationship among school environment, home, teacher,
educational administration and student related variables under investigation
and achievement of students. The outcome of the study is therefore expected to
assist all stakeholders in the district, particularly at the basic education
level, to fashion out appropriate strategies that would enhance the regard, the
study would be useful to secondary schools in Enugu East local government area
in analysis of the causes of poor performance in both internal and external
examination.
Finally the significance of this study mainly
is to battle those factors militating against secondary students academic
performance in government in Enugu state with a particular reference to Enugu
East local government.
Scope
of the Study.
The study will be
delimited to factors militating against students poor performance in government
in secondary school in Enugu East Local government. This local government is made
up of 8 communities, which are Amangwu, Ibagwa, Umuchigbo, Ugwueke, Amorji,
Edem, Alulu, Onyoho, and Esema.
They are many students
in this local government with over 40 secondary schools but five (5) selected
for this study. Each school has about 1000 students but 10 percent will be
taken from the each population of the school The reason for concentrating this
study in 5 secondary schools was due to high poor performance in government as
a subject is more pronounced without reservation and it has become typically a
barrier to the art students in the school and development in terms of their
individual personality development
This study was
restricted to poor performance in government in secondary schools located in
Enugu East LGA.
Research
Question.
The following research
question will guide the study:
1.
To what extent is poor foundation a
contributory factor to poor performance of students in secondary school?
2.
Are
there enough qualified Government Teachers in Secondary School in Enugu East
Local Government Area.
3.
What extent are teachers method of teaching a
contributory factor to poor performance in government in the secondary schools?
4.
What are the suggested way or solution
to improve students academic performance in the secondary schools.
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