FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF CHEMISTRY STUDENTS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OGBIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE

ABSTRACT

This study was on the factors affecting the performance of students in chemistry in Senior secondary schools in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state. In this research five (5) principals, twenty (20) Chemistry teachers and two hundred and one (201) Chemistry students making the total of 226 respondent was drawn using a random sampling method. Questionnaires were used to elicit information from the respondents- Teachers and students on the problems associated with mass failure of secondary school student in chemistry in WAEC Examinations. It was revealed from the response of some Chemistry teachers that, the discussion, discovery and demonstration method of teachers were the most often method use by the Chemistry teachers and where occasionally complimented with other methods like inquiry and discussion. The number of periods allocated for teaching Chemistry subject was seen as adequate by most of the teachers. In conclusion therefore, the teachers must not only well qualified but also developed in adequate number in our urban and the rural secondary schools.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Over the years, there have been growing concerns about the attitude of students towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools.  The need to adapt our education to the needs of the Nigerian society started before and after independence.  Many educational elites began to recognize that the functional inadequacies of the educational system inherited from the colonial education failed to develop positive values, attitudes and habits in our society because the Chemistry they taught was British oriented and has nothing to offer to the Nigerian child.

Laitos 2017, observed that the present educational system instead of developing positive values in the society which the African child lives, tends to alienate him from his cultural environment.  This was the reason behind the re-evaluation of the educational system and the curriculum of the school and objectives that are relevant to the society.

There has been wild cry each year when WAEC or NECO releases their annual results as a result of students poor performance, especially in Science subjects” [(Salami, Mohammed, & Ogunlade; (2012) in Ojukwu, M.O. (2016)] . “Candidates’ performance at the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by WAEC and NECO has consistently remained poor, with chemistry having one of the worst and poorest results over the years” (Ibe & Madusnum; 2001 in Ojukwu, M.O; 2016) . Meanwhile, the poor performance of students in any course of study, either Sciences, Social Sciences, or even Commercial studies would lead to a poor development of the country since they make up the content (major) of the education sector of the country, which  is the bedrock of the nation’s development, both economically, technologically, politically and generally in the aspect of sciences.

The major ideas and philosophies behind the curriculum innovation in the 1969 National Curriculum Conference according to Akinlaye (2001) were:

1. The need to make education more relevant to the needs of the individuals and the society.
2. The need to use education for national integration and socio-economic development.
3. The need to develop the right societal value and;
4. The need to make an individual responsible to the society in which he lives.

This has been the case; the National Policy on Education (2004) has in recognition the important role Chemistry will play towards the achievement of the country’s educational aims and objectives.  Thus, Chemistry was made a core subject. Hence, there is a greater responsibility for Chemistry teachers in Nigeria today than the days before independence; this is because the Nigerian youths now live in an environment characterized by social ills and moral decadence which have to be curbed at all cost.  The youths therefore need Chemistry education which focuses on the problems and issues of human beings in their changing environments and seeks to develop desirable habits, values, attitudes and skills in order to solve them.

Researchers have concentrated much on the cognitive aspect of teaching in our secondary schools because of the importance attached to success in public examinations; however, there is interplay between the cognitive and affective areas of teaching.  For example, Taylor (2001) and Gunsch (2005) have shown that there is a relationship between interest and developments in different school subjects, therefore, it is believed that favourable attitude towards Chemistry may influence to a considerable extent the uptake of knowledge in Chemistry. Studies relating to specific aspects of students’ attitude towards Chemistry and other related subjects have been undertaken by several researchers.  Jekayinfa (2007) has reported that high grade in Chemistry at lower forms is a factor that can pull students to history in the secondary schools in Nigeria.  In the study of factors associated with interest in science, Ormerod and Dukworth (2000) have also identified a number of factors like personality, home and other environmental factors among American and British High School students. The need to motivate students to develop positive attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary school and to create a conducive environment for studying Chemistry is not disputable and cannot be over-emphasized. he unfortunate thing is that students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in schools is fraught with a lot of problems.  There is a general belief that whenever students perform poorly in their courses the teacher has not really taught them well.  People hardly look at the problem from the point of view of the student’s attitude towards the courses; hence this project work which is intended to examine the factors affecting the performance of senior secondary school students in chemistry in ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.

 

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The poor attitude of students towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools in Nsukka Local Government is in an unsatisfactory state of affairs and imbalance in the educational sector in particular and the nation’s development in general.

Chemistry as a core subject in the senior secondary school level suggest the importance the government, parents and students themselves attach to the study. The phenomena increase in students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in senior secondary schools should not be allowed to remain for too long unattended to. The need to motivate students to develop positive attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary school and to create a conducive environment for studying Chemistry is not disputable and cannot be over-emphasized. he unfortunate thing is that students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in schools is fraught with a lot of problems.  There is a general belief that whenever students perform poorly in their courses the teacher has not really taught them well.  People hardly look at the problem from the point of view of the student’s attitude towards the courses; hence this project work which is intended to examine the factors affecting the performance of senior secondary school students in chemistry in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.

 

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The study is generally to identify the Problems hindering the effective teaching of Chemistry in the Senior Secondary schools in Ogbia local government area  of Bayelsa State.

The study specifically seeks:

1. To find out the extent to which the influx of unqualified teachers affect students in learning Chemistry.
2. To identify the problems that limit effective teaching of chemistry in Senior secondary schools in Ogbia local government area .

• To find out students’ attitude towards learning Chemistry.

1.5  Research Questions

The following are the research questions of the study:

1. To what extent does the influx of unqualified teachers in teaching Chemistry affect student academic performance?
2. What are the factors limiting effective teaching and learning of Chemistry in secondary schools?

• What is the attitude of student towards learning Chemistry?

 

1.6    Research Hypotheses

Ho1:  Influx of unqualified teachers in teaching Chemistry does not affect students’ academic performance.

Ho₂:  There are no factors that led to the influx of unqualified Chemistry teachers in secondary schools.

_Ho3:  There is no change in the attitudes of students towards learning Chemistry.

 

1.7 Significance of the Study

As Nigeria is still a developing nation, it is hoped that the findings of this research will encourage various governments to provide conducive environment, teaching aids and qualified teachers for effective study of Chemistry in secondary schools.

This study is of educational importance because it is believed that if Chemistry teachers in secondary schools understand the factors which stimulate the growth of interest in Chemistry, such knowledge may provide bases not only to make Chemistry popular but also to make the teaching of Chemistry humanizing.

Re-orient students with negative attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools. Assist the government to identify students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools. Serve as a basis for other researchers who are carrying out investigation on similar problems facing the development of education in Nigeria. Help teachers and educational planners to acquire knowledge of solving problems associated with the attitude of students towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools.

 

1.8 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The scope of this study is to ascertain the Factors affecting the performance of chemistry students in Senior secondary school in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.

1.9 Definition of Terms

• Chemistry: This is the branch of science which studies the nature and properties of substances which make up the environment, with the changes they undergo.
• Senior Secondary School: This is an upper stratum of a high school or college closest to tertiary institutions or universities by the educational system or format of Nigeria. It is categorized into 3 sub – strata, viz: S.S.S 1, S.S.S 2 and S.S.S. 3 Where, “S.S.S.” signifies the acronym for “Senior Secondary School”
• Students: In this context, are groups or sets of people who learn new knowledge, principles, skills and values under the imparting influence of a teacher ( a custodian of the content to be learnt) .
• Socio status: This is the total state of an individual based on inequality in terms of occupation, level of education and other societal issues defined by the environment.
• Education: This is a formal instruction or training given to a child in school. According to the 6th edition of the Oxford dictionary, it is a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.
• FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF CHEMISTRY STUDENTS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OGBIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE

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