DETERMINANTS OF STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BASIC SCIENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ISEYIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OYO STATE

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

• INTRODUCTION

 

This chapter high lights the main point for the study. It gives the background information (background of the study), statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research question, significant of the study, scope of the study, as well as limitation of the study.

        BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 

Basic science has always been the foundation of all scientific knowledge and technological development that is vital to socio – economic development of any given nation or growing state. Because of this, basic science has been made as a compulsory subject in senior secondary school in Nigeria, as a matter of fact; it has been used as a basic entry program into any prestigious course such as Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, etc. and other field of sciences.

No wonder Galileo Galilee made a statement thus, “The universe cannot be read until we learn the language of the universe and become familiar with the characters and symbols in which it is been written. It is been written in mathematical language and the language letters are triangles, lines, circles and other geometrical figures, without which it is impossible to comprehend a single word, without this known language, one is wandering and wallowing in a state of Dark Labyrinth”. Despite the vital role the science of basic science has played in our society, there has been unfavourable performance in this field of study all-round the nation. Aremu (2000) stresses that academic failure is not only frustrating to the students and the parents, its effects are equally grave on the society in terms of dearth (lack) 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 secondary 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.

However, different people at different times have passed the blame of poor performance in secondary school to students because of their low retention, parental determinant, association with wrong peers, low achievement, low retention, low achievement motivation and the likes (Aremu & Sokan, 2003; Aremu & Oluwole 2001; Aremu, 2000).

Morakinyo (2003) believe that the falling level of academic performance 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, nasty comments about student‟s performance that could damage their ego, poor method of teaching and the likes affect students‟ academic performance.

High academic performance is the desired expectation of every parent that sent his/her ward or youngster to school.

Academic performance as defined by the Wikipedia group refers to how students deals with their studies and how they cope with or accomplish different task given to them by their teacher (wikki.answer.com).

In all educational society, success is measured by academic performance, or how well a student meets the given standard set out by the educational organization (www.ehow).

Parents care about their youngster academic performance because they believe that high or good positive result will provide more career choice and job security in the political society.

Academic performance according Cambridge university researchers (2003), is defined in terms of examination performance. In educational organization (school) academic performance in characterized performance in test, in subject work and also in examination.

To this end, Stein, Grover and Hennissen (1996) investigated that to improve the academic performance of senior secondary school students, the use of well-structured and enhance instructions as a means of building students capacity for basic science thinking and reasoning.

Further surveys were made and the findings was that for any students in secondary classes to perform very well the students must be provided with the necessary materials and equipment in order to engage in critical thinking, reasoning and brain- storming skills. Engagement of students in such practices leads students to a deeper understanding of basic science as well as increased ability to develop and demonstrate complex exercise solving skills.

Therefore, considering the extent of the problem, this research work investigates the determinant affecting the academic performance of senior secondary school students in basic science.

        STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

 

The academic performance of students in internal and external examination and competition in Nigeria is a great concern to many

concerned   citizens   and   stake   holders	in	education.   From
experience,   it   has  been  observed  that	the	huge  investment
endowed   on  education  is   not  yielding (Adebule, 2004).	the	desired  outcome

 

In schools the teacher bitterly complains of the students‟ performance in basic science (Ashiaka, 2010).

This has a serious implication for a developing nation aspiring for technological advancement like that of our beloved country Nigeria.

 

To this termination, the study investigates the determinant affecting the academic performance of student in basic science.

        PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

 

The purpose of this study is to survey the determinant affecting the academic performance of student in basic science, this study examine the following;

• To examine teachers attitude in terms of teaching basic science

 

• To examine students attitude in terms of learning basic science

 

• To examine  the  qualification,  professionalism  and  teachers strategies used in teaching basic science.
• To examine the school environment and the kind of discipline in the school.

        RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 

To facilitate the study, attempts are made in providing answers to the following questions:

• Does attitude   of   the   teacher   towards   the   teaching   of basic science affect students‟ academic performance?
• Does attitude of student towards the learning of basic science affects their academic performance?
• Does teacher‟s  qualification,   professionalism  and   teachers strategy affects the student academic performance?
• Does the school environment and the degree of discipline affect the academic performance of students?

        SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 

In this section being and exploratory study, the research work will play a vital role to guide a process of understanding the determinant affecting performance of senior secondary schools students in basic science.

This research work is believed to be significant because it will find solutions to academic performance (improving academic outcome) and it will also be a guideline to the improvement of basic science education Nigeria.

This research work will be useful to the following:

 

• Curriculum planners

 

• School and institution administrators

 

• Educational stake holders

 

• Basic science teachers association and basic science student in general

        SCOPE OF THE STUDY

 

This research work is purely confined to selected mixed secondary schools in Oyo state a case study of //Iseyin Local Government Area precisely; in other to investigate the determinant affecting the academic performance of students in basic science.

 

        LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 

Due to financial constraints, the study will be limited to four schools out of the Government approved Secondary schools in Iseyin local government area Oyo state. Only the senior secondary class will be selected and it‟s students.

        DEFINITION OF TERMS

 

Some terminologies which are used for the purpose of this research work are been defined here.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

 

Academic performance refers to how student deals with their studies and how they cope with or accomplish different tasks given

to them by their teacher or instructors (extracted from wikki.answer.com).

SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

Secondary school is high school or a school of corresponding grade, ranking between a primary school and a college or university

DETERMINANT

 

According to the English dictionary determinant is anything or something that contributes to or has influence on the outcome of something either positively or negatively.

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