School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
Abstract
This research study was conducted to examine school resources and students’ academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. Three research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of this study consists of all the students who studied Economics in Senior Secondary School Classes (SS1 – SS3) from the twelve (12) public secondary schools in the study area with a population of one thousand six hundred and fifty-three (1653).
A sample size of two hundred (200) students from five (5) secondary schools was selected using simple random sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were a structured questionnaire titled “School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics (SRAASE)” and Economics Achievement Test (EAT).
The data gathered for the study were analysed using independent t-test statistical method to test the three null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that students who are exposed to good classroom building performed academically better than their counterparts who are not exposed. Also the results showed that students taught by qualified teaching staff performed maximally better than their counterparts taught by non qualified teaching staff. Finally it was gathered that performance of students who are exposed to well equip library are better than their counterparts who are not exposed.
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Schools are established for the purpose of teaching and learning. This is supported by Ikpe (2014) who saw quality of school resources in schools as one of the cardinal parameter used to measure the effectiveness of a school system. This means that the better the performance of the students, the more effective the system is assumed to be.
It is important that teachers and learners in schools be properly accommodated to facilitate effective teaching and learning that supposed to take place in the school. The idea of proper accommodation is explained in the context of the provision of adequate school resources in the school environment so as to help foster effective teaching and learning.
School resources are those things that guide both the teachers and students during the teaching/learning process. In the view of Ekpo (2014) resources in the school environment are materials which aid effective academic and learning processes such as availability of libraries, availability of instructional materials which would helps to promote effective teaching and learning process.
School resources could be categorized into two broad groups such as human and material resources. Human resources are professional teachers, teaching personnel as well as other non – academic staff in the school environment. The material resources in the school system are classified into library resources e.g textbooks periodicals such as journals, magazine and newspaper, other forms of library resources include computer system one its accessories, internet connection, shelves and desk.
According to Udokang (2013), teaching and learning involves dynamic interaction of human material resources. He further conceptualized school resources as the bedrock to the educational attainment in our schools system which should not be taken for granted. He further opines that school resources sometimes serves as the mirror to both the teachers and learners in the teaching and learning processes. School resources enhance the effectiveness of schools as these are basic things that can bring about good academic achievement in the students.
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
In the view of Nyoerer (2014) school resources are those materials utilized by teachers in the school environment to make lessons meaningful. Any lesson that a teacher fail to use the necessary learning materials are said to be meaningless. Nyoerer (2014) further stressed that both human and material resources are the key factors in any school setting.
Resources like chairs, availability of desks and table in the classroom, instructional materials such as well as charts pocket chart, audiovisual materials, overhead projector and many others when put in place in the school environment, there is bound to be good academic achievement in the school system. On this note, school resources are the space interpretation and physical expression of the school curriculum (Ukpong, 2018).
Again, Lawson (2009) noted that school resources are responsible for academic interest of the students in learning Economics. He further stated that in any educational setting, school resources are very important determinant of the child’s intellectual development.
Thus, school resources are much reliable to various students’ interest and academic achievement. However, school resources may be proved to be vital determinant of measuring academic performance of students at secondary school provided that the factors which are directly or indirectly related to academic achievement of students are controlled by the teachers.
In addition, school resources according to Usman (2017) are central to the educational process because they play an important role in the achievement of educational goals and objectives since they facilitate teachers’ work and accelerate learning on the part of the student.
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Over the years there have been an incessant poor academic achievement among secondary school students in both the internal and external examinations, the parents and stake – holders in education have condemned the high rate of the menace.
The reasons for these are attributed to many factors such as teachers teaching method, peers group influence, teacher’s characteristics and lack of school resources in the school environment for effective teaching and learning.
However, some point to the fact that secondary schools do not have well equipped school library, good classroom building and instructional materials during lesson delivery; so these adversely contribute to poor academic achievement among secondary school students.
Thus, the researcher finds it necessary to examine school resources on student’s academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine school resources and academic achievement of students in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Local Government Area. Specifically, the study aimed at;
- determine the influence of good classroom building on students’ academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A.
- assess the influence of teaching staff on students’ academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
- examine the influence of school library on students’ academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.
(i) How does good classroom building influence student’s academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools?
(ii) To what extent does teaching staff influence student’s academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools?
(ii) How does school library influence student’s academic achievement in Economics in secondary schools.
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:
- There is no significant difference in the academic achievement of students who are exposed to good classroom building and those who are not exposed to good classroom building.
- There is no significant difference in the academic achievement of students taught by qualified teaching staff and those taught by non qualified teaching staff.
- There is no significant difference in the academic achievement of students who are exposed to well equip school library and their counterparts who are not exposed to well equip library.
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study will be of great importance to educational planners, policy makers, teachers and students in the following ways;
The findings of this study will stimulate parents, school managers, teachers, students and the society’s awareness on the importance of school resources.
The findings of the study will also assist school administrators and curriculum planners to develop strategies that would reduce negative effects of poor learning resources on academic performance of students in secondary schools.
This study will also be of importance to students themselves as it will be made known to them the effects of school resources on their academic performance.
It will help the educational planners to see the need to equip all schools equally despite their location with good resources in order to boost learning outcomes.
It will also served as reference materials to those that will have interest on this study in other Local Government Area.
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
1.7 Limitation of the Study
In the course of this study, the researcher was faced with the following challenges;
(i) Financial constraint: Inadequate funds affected the way data was collected since the researcher was travelling a long distance for data collection.
(ii) Time factor: The Time for the completion of this study was not enough since the researcher had other school activities to attain to.
(iii) Long Distance: Some of the schools are located in rural areas couple with long distance and bad road network.
1.8 Delimitation of the Study
The study is delimited to school resources and academic achievement of students in Economics in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. Also, this study was focus on the following sub-variables; school library, good classroom building and instructional materials.
1.9 Definition of Terms
The following terms were defined as they are utilized in the study.
School resources: These are the facilities and equipment in the school system which helps in the achievement of educational objectives.
Library: This is a building in which collection of books, newspaper etc are kept for people to read, study or borrow.
Students: This is a person who is studying at secondary school with the intention of acquiring knowledge.
Teaching staff: This has to do with human resources in the school that impact knowledge to the learners.
Classroom: This is a room or block in a school where group of students are taught.
Academic Achievement: This is the level of knowledge of skills attained by students in a given subject usually designed for them during the process of assessment.
Economics: Is a subject taught in the senior secondary schools SS1 – SS3.
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
School Resources and Academic Achievement of Students in Economics in Secondary Schools
