Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of school facilities on pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science in public primary schools in Abak Local Government Area. Three research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.
Literature review was done under the following sub-headings; Concept of School Facilities, Library Facilities and Academic Performance of Basic Science Pupils, Classroom Facilities and Academic Performance of Basic Science Pupils, laboratory facilities and Academic Performance of Basic Science Pupils, and Summary of the Literature Review. Survey research design was adopted for the study.
The population for the study consisted of all the one thousand and forty five (1,045) Primary five pupils in all the twenty four (24) public Primary schools in the study area. The sample size for the study was one hundred and twenty (120) Primary five pupils selected from twelve schools. In each of the twelve schools selected, ten (10) pupils were drawn using simple random sampling technique.
Two instruments were adopted for data collection in this study. One was Basic Science Achievement Test, while the other was a questionnaire title “School Facilities Questionnaire (SFQ)”. The data collected were analyzed using independent t-test statistical method. The result revealed that Laboratory facilities, Library facilities and classroom facilities significantly influenced pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science positively.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
No nation can rise above the quality if its educational system. This is because education is the light that shows the nation a right direction to follow, as well as being an engine for the growth and progress of any society. Umoh (2019) maintained that the nation’s overall development is inextricably tied to its educational system. According to Osakinle (2010, education does not only impact knowledge, skills and inculcates does not it is also responsible for building human capacity which breads, drives and sets technological innovation and economic growth.
These function of education can only be achieved which the school environment is encouraging, stimulating and conducive. Pupils are individuals who accumulate with the help of the teachers in a motivating and encouraging school environment. The learning experience accumulated in a sound school environment serve as the bridge to overcomes a more effective member of the society (Isaiah, 2016). With this view, there is need to introduce quality into the school facilities for effective teaching/learning process.
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
School facilities according to Bello (2011) are equipments sand materials in school used in facilitating the teaching-learning process. Onyeji (2014) opined that facilities mean materials which support the operation of an organization or an institution to carry out its daily activities and to promote growth and development in such organization or institution.
Thus, school facilities could therefore refer to the entire environment of the school. It is both the physical and material resources available to the students and teachers in school to enhance the teaching-learning processes.
An effective school facilities is responsive to the changing programs of educational delivery, and it should provide a physical environment that is comfortable, safe, secure, accessible, well ventilated and aesthetically pleasing to the learners and the teachers. These facilities include; a well equipped library, a well equipped laboratory, a well equipped classrooms with seats, tables, chalkboard, lighting, charts, maps, and computers with internet connection. Others are administrative buildings, playgrounds, areas for outdoor learning, vehicle access and parking areas.
Knezevich (2010) opines that school facilities play vital role in the actualization of educational goals and objectives by satisfying the physical and emotional needs of the learners and staff of the institution. He further asserted that school facilities can briefly and learning possible in a school system. Moreover, he listed some of the school facilities to include, the building, library, chairs, textbooks, classrooms, chalk/white board, sporting fields and equipments.
In the area of library, the importance and uses of library cannot be under-rated. This is because library facilities such as books, computer system, printed and non-printed materials give great assistance to both the teachers and the learners. Harry (2014) noted the importance of library facilities for the teachers and learners, he then recommended that school library should be well equipped with modern and functional facilities.
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Similary, classroom facilities played a very vital role in the school system. Hard (2014) emphasizes that classrooms with teaching facilities should be made available and attractive to the learners. He then calls on the attention of the government to make classroom facilities available and conducive for the teaching-learning processes to take place. That is, importance should be attached to facilities of the classroom to enable an imagined educational programme to be achieved.
Dada (2014) observed the poor state of classroom facilities in Nigeria, he opines that anyone who is familiar with the nature of classroom in our country will agree that no meaningful teaching-learning activities can effectively take place in school even if the teachers are God-sent. The problem is that where there are classrooms, they are overcrowded to the extent that the classrooms, which was originally meant for between 30 and 40 pupils take between to 80 pupils with a good number of them sitting on the window and some seats on the floor. Based on this background, the researcher considered it necessary to examine the effects of school facilities on pupils’ academic performance.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Basic science is a very important subject in the educational system. This because the foundation for every science subjects is the content of Basic Science. But the academic performance of pupils in this important subject is below the expectation of the general public. For instance, Essien (2012) observed the poor academic performance of pupils in Basic Science and he proclaimed that the educational system, needs to be restricted.
The causes of this poor academic performance of pupils has been attributed to so many factors such as home factors, and school factors. It has been observed that in many schools, some of their classrooms are not conducive for teaching learning processes, some libraries are not well on this issue of poor state of the school facilities, the researcher considered it necessary to examine school facilities and pupils’ academic performance.
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of this study is to examine school facilities and pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
Specifically, the study seeks to:
- Examine the effect of classroom facilities on Pupils’ academic performance in basic Science in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
- Examine the effect of library facilities on pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
- Examine the effect of laboratory facilities on pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions were raised to guide the study:
- How does classroom facilities affect the academic performance of basic Science Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
- How does library facilities affect the academic performance of Basic Science pupils in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
- How does laboratory facilities affect the academic performance of Basic Science Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:
- There is no significant effect of classroom facilities on academic performance of basic Science Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
- There is no significant effect of library facilities on academic performance of Basic Science pupils in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
- There is no significant effect of laboratory facilities on academic performance of Basic Science Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Abak Local Government Area.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will be of great benefit to the educational planners, government, pupils and teachers in the following ways:
This study will help educational planners and policy makers to see the need to equip all schools equally despite the location in terms of provision infrastructural amenities, improve teachers’ quality and quantity. The teachers will also benefits from this study because when the school facilities are in good conditions, the teachers will work in a conducive environment.
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
The study will also be of benefit to the learners in that when government provide the necessary facilities, it will help to promote the academic achievement of the learners. Finally, the findings will provide a framework for further research and thereby adding to the existing literature on the subject matter.
1.7 Delimitation of the Study
This study is delimited to school facilities and pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science in Public Primary School in Abak Local Government Area. The sub-variables are school library facilities, classroom facilities, and laboratory facilities.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
The following challenges will be confronted by the researcher.
Financial Constraint: High cost of transportation to visit all the selected schools for this study was a great problem to the researcher.
Time Constraint: Due to the fact as at the time of this study, the researcher had other school activities to take care of, therefore time was a great problem.
Attitude of the Respondents: Most of the respondents felt so reluctant to response to the instrument.
1.9 Definition of Terms
The following terms were defined for easy understanding of the study.
School Facilities: These refer to those equipment and materials in school used in facilitating the teaching-learning process.
Library Facilities: These are those materials in the library which enhance the effective teaching-learning process.
Classroom Facilities: These are the materials in the classroom that promote lesson delivery.
Academic Performance: The grade of students obtain in test or examination after been exposed to learning experience.
Laboratory Facilities: These refer to those tools/apparatus used in carrying out practical in schools.
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
Influence of School Facilities and Pupils Academic Performance in Basic Science in Public Primary Schools
