STUDY SKILLS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

STUDY SKILLS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

 Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess study skills and students’ academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The population of the study comprised of all students offering Government in the fourteen public secondary schools in the Local Government Area. A total of six out of the fourteen public secondary schools were randomly selected for the study.

Accordingly, 120 students out of a total number of 4,540 in SS1 to SS3 who offered Government were used as sample for the study. The research design for the study was the survey method while the instrument used was the structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzing using independent t-test. The finding of the study revealed that reading, writing and listening are very important for the study skill which has enormous influence on students’ academic performance.

The study made some recommendations among which are that, Government should build schools in the location that would guarantee students’ full concentration when in the classroom and that parent should teach their children how to read, write and listen since they are the first teachers. The study concluded that if all the recommendations are adhered to, students would improve on their academic performance.

STUDY SKILLS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

Developing study skills have been found to be an important factor in student`s academic performance. There is an understanding the world over, that reading and writing skills are fundamental in the life of students. This accounts for the involvement of mothers at home as the first teachers in teaching their children this study skills.

According to Ekeng 2007 reading is the capacity within the brain to define and give shape to images and objects and at the same time hold such definitions and give shape for the purpose of recalling and interpreting. Therefore, students who wish to excel and make a success out of their academic work much emphasis on reading as a study skill. Reading being receptive and writing a productive communication skill afford children the opportunity to integrate more constructively in their expanding challenging and highly sensitized technological environment in the present decade.

Reading activities in schools face a number of difficulties such as vocalization, regression and inability on the part of students to read for enjoyment. Students have not been able to develop this important skill and contribute well in both internal and external examinations (Agbo, 1997). Reading and write as important study skill is the basis of literacy. An educated person is identifying when he or she expresses these two very unique skills.

A pen in hand and a scroll was a traditional practice observed at the birth of a child in most communities in Nigeria. The expectation was that this child would grow up to represent the western world. The trend however, has been reverse since this knowledge and how to acquire it exist more in the child`s environment as soon as they are born. Mothers these days assist their children to discover knowledge by helping them to read and write before and during school age.

The foundation laid by mothers goes a long way to help children as they grow up and move into other higher levels of education (Azikiwe, 2007). There is no doubt that student`s study skills in the learning of Government would certainly study their academic performance. Students need to develop a positive attitude towards skill such as reading, writing and communication as this is the only way they can improve themselves academically (Denga, 2005).

The learning of Government is as important as the learning of other subjects both in the sciences, arts and humanities. A student of Government is exposed to certain ingredients which are necessary for the creation of a stable political atmosphere upon which all round development can be built. Where a student does not develop positive study skills he or she is bound to experience retrogression in academic performance. This has been found to be the case in the performance of students in Government as various researches have shown.

This particular study is also along that line to ascertain the influence of study skills on students` academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. 

STUDY SKILLS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.2   Statement of the Problem

The poor performance of students in both internal and external examination such as NECO and WAEC in the past years have posed serious concerned to Government, schools administrators and parents alike. Secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area is not left out in this poor performance record as evidences are very clear in various secondary schools across the local Government area.

It was in recognition of this ugly situation that this study was carried out to ascertain the level of student`s poor performance and to find out the extent to which ineffective application of study skills could have contributed to this poor performance.

1.3   Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study was to assess the study skills and student`s academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

The specific purpose was:

1. To assess the influence of reading skill on students’ academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Government in Ibesikpo Asutan local Government Area.
2. To assess the effect of writing skill on student`s academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
3. To assess the influence of listening skill on student`s academic performance in Government in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

1.4   Significance of the Study

Finding of the study would be useful to policy makers in planning and impending education policies and programmers. It would serve as a useful material for students to know skills that if developed could help them to achieve much in their education pursuit.

The students would reveal to teachers the importance of teaching the students study skills and also ensure that these skills are put into practice by the students effective result. Researchers who may wish to embark on a study of this kind would equally find this work very useful as it will serve as a reference material for them.

STUDY SKILLS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.5   Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to direct the findings of the study:

1. To what extent does reading skill influence students’ academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area?
2. How does writing skill affect students’ academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area?
3. To what extent does listening skill influence students’ academic performance in Government in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area?

1.6   Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were postulated to guide this study:

1. There is no significant influence of reading skills on the academic performance of students in Government.
2. There is no significant effect of writing skill on the students’ academic performance in Government.
3. There is no significant influence of listening skill on the academic performance of students in Government.

1.7   Delimitation of the Study

The scope of the study would cover all secondary schools offering Government as a subject in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. There are a total number of fourteen secondary schools in the Local Government Area out of which six offer Government from SS1 to SS3.

1.8   Limitation of the Study

The study faced a number of constraints such as finances, unavailability of enough materials on the subject matter and uncooperative attitude of some teachers in organizing the students properly for the questionnaire to be completed and returned in time. The researcher equally experienced transport difficulties in an effort to reach all the secondary schools in the local Government Area as some of the schools were located in remote communities with deplorable roads.

STUDY SKILLS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.9   Definition of Terms

The following terms would be defined as used in the study to guide those who may have access to the research work.

Skill:  The ability to do something well, a particular ability such as in reading, writing etc.

Study: This is the activity of learning or gaining knowledge either from books or by examining things in the world.

Government: This is a subject taught in senior secondary schools. It is concerned with formulating, implementation and interpreting of laws in a political system.

Academic performance: This is the level of academic achievement of students in secondary schools. It is measured in scores and grades obtained in examinations.

Listening: To pay attention to something in this case to be attentive to the teacher in the classroom.

Writing: The activity of using pen and paper to write. The ability to put down on paper what the teacher teaches in the classroom.