ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between school variables and students academic performance in Business Studies in selected secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research questions were posed, and three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A total sample of one hundred and fifty (150) students were purposively selected for the study. The selection was done through the purposively sampling techniques. Business Studies Achievement Test (BSAT) was used for data collection. It was constructed by the researcher under the guidance of the supervisors and that gave it face and content validity. The Business Studies Achievement Test (BSAT) was successfully administered by the researcher and collected upon completing the test of the hypotheses and to ascertain whether to accept or reject them. Independent t-test analysis was considered the most appropriate statistical technique employed to test the hypotheses because of the nature of analysis involved in the hypotheses directing the study. All hypotheses were subjected to testing at 0.05 level of significant with critical values and degree of freedom. The result of the analysis indicates that school facilities, class size and teacher’s qualification significantly differ with academic performance of students. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations and suggestions for further studies were made that Government should provide ceiling and ceiling fan to avoid heat for students during heat period.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study
The school variables which include the classrooms, libraries, technical workshops, teacher quality, laboratories, school management, teacher’s working experience, teaching methods, peers etc. are variables which has an important role to play when it come to students academic performance (Ajayi, 2001 and Oluchukwes 2000). Hence the school variables remain an important area that should be studies and will managed to enhance student’s academic performance.
School physical environment on the other hand include te building and the surrounding grounds such as noise temperature and lighting as well as physical biological or chemical agents. The alarming increase in the number of students with asthma is one problem that has been posed by poor physical conditions in school.
The extent to which students learning could be enhanced depend on their location within the school compound the structure of their classroom, availability of instructional facilities and accessories.
It is believed that a well planned school will geared up expected outcomes of education that will facilitate good teaching and learning process and academic performance of the students (Lyon, 2001).
The physical characteristics of school have a variety of effects on teachers, students and the learning process. Beyond the direct effects that poor facilities have on student’s ability to learn the combination or poor place for teachers, poor facilities trigger the exhibition of frustrating behavior by students including poor concentration and apathy. It is also a stressful set of working conditions for teachers because of stress and job dissatisfaction are common pre-cursors to lower teacher enthusiasm. It is possible that the aforementioned characteristics of schools facilities have an effect upon the academic performance of students.
Oyedyi (2002) opined that the importance of teachers cannot be overemphasized. This is because teachers play a number of roles. Specifically, a teacher has been referred to as an agent of innovation in very important. This is because teacher education is very complex enterprise. The complexity arises as a result of several factors which include determination of who an effective teacher is as well as what teachers are expected to do. Some of the roles are common to all teachers while others are uniquely related to certain kinds of environment of students or subject matter. Added to this is the fact that, teacher education involves the training of professionals who will educate students in future.
Despite the complexity in the field of teacher education one cannot overemphasized the importance of academic training of teacher of all categories.
This is because of efficiency of any institution depends on the academic competence of the teaching staff and no educational system cannot rise above the quality of its teacher.
It is therefore pertinent to investigate the relationship of variables such as school facilities, class size, teacher’s qualification to academic performance of students in Business Studies in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State which this study intends to cover.
- Statement of the Problem
Some schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria carry out the educational activities in dilapidated buildings, equipped with outdated facilities and teachers at time work under unsafe condition. It is not unusual to find teachers and students interacting academically under collapse school building. Likewise students are sometimes left with no option but to receive lessons under poor ventilated classroom, poor lighting and sound system, large class size because of lack of structure (building) and teachers are poorly motivated resulting to decline number of teachers in the school environment and lack of experienced teacher in some of our school.
The high levels of students academic performance may not be guaranteed where workshops and laboratories are structurally defective. However, little is known on the impact of school variables on student’s academic performance in Business Studies in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The prevalent problems have motivated the research on school variables and students academic performance in Business Studies in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the difference between school variables and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Specifically, this study sought to;
- Examine the difference between school facilities and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- Examine the difference between class size and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- Examine the difference between teacher’s qualification and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- Research Questions
- What is the difference between school facilities and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area?
- What is the difference between class size and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area?
- What is the difference between teacher’s qualification and academic performance of students in Business Studies insecondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area?
- Research Hypotheses
- There is no significant difference between school facilities and academic performance of students in Business studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- There is no significant difference between class size and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- There is no significant difference between teacher’s qualification and academic performance of students in Business Studies in secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- Significance of the Study
It is hoped that the findings of this study would be of immense important to parents, educators, and school administrators to reflect upon various factors that help students in achieving their academic goals.
- The findings of the study would assists teachers improved upon with the use of available facilities for effective teaching and learning in the classroom activities.
- The findings would also help the teacher to improve on their methods of teaching in selecting the various topics for teachings.
- The findings of this study would help parents to encourage their children about the important of Business Studies as one of the core subject in secondary school.
- The results would also help the curriculum planner to make Business Studies one of the core subjects in secondary school. In doing so, they can investigate the possibility of introducing those factors to their schools which may consequently lead to enhancing students educational outcomes and academic performance of students in Business Studies in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
- Scope of the Study
This research work focuses on school variables and academic performance of students in Business Studies in some selected secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. This research work was delimited to public secondary schools students in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The study was also delimited to school facilities, class size and teacher’s qualification.
- Limitation of the Study
Apart from time frame and shortage of finance, the major limitation to this research is the inability of the researcher to cover the whole public secondary schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as the title suggest.
- Definition of Terms
- School: A school is an educational institution design for the teaching of students (or pupils) under the direction of teachers
- School Variables: A school’s physical environment including the school building and the surrounding
- Academic Achievement: Knowledge attained or skills developed in school subjects by test scores
- Secondary schools: (also “High School”) is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schoolingknown as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age place. It follows elementary or primary education and may be followed by university (tertiary education)
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