Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of class size on academic performance of Biology students in senior secondary schools in Nist Ibom Local Government Area. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated in line with specific objectives to guide the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study.
The population of the study consisted of 853 senior secondary two (SS 2) students in the (8) public secondary schools in the area. A sample size of two hundred (200) senior secondary two (SS 2) students from (5) public secondary schools was used for the study using purposive sampling technique. “Class Size Questionnaire for Biology Students (SCQBS) were the main instrument for data collection.
The data generated from the study were analysed using independent t-test statistical method to test the two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result from the findings revealed that students taught Biology in a small class size performed academically better than their counterparts taught in a large class size.
Accordingly, it was shown that, academic performance of male students were maximally better than their female counterparts in a small class size. It was recommended among others that the recommended teacher-student ratio of 1:25 should be maintained in schools so as to facilitate the teaching-learning process and enhance students’ academic performance in science (Biology).
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Education occupies a central place in the evolution of society and is pivotal to nation building. The classroom provides an effective platform for the acquisition of knowledge and the shaping of attitude towards learning. The basic foundation for educational development and sustainable improvements in teaching standard and learners behaviour is therefore best assured when the classroom environment is properly determined, monitored and managed (Richman, 2015).
However, the rapid development in all facets of Nigerian economic, social, political and educational system is so alarming. There should also be a corresponding increase in the turn-out of manpower to meet the demand. The Nigerian educational system should be ready to train qualified manpower to meet with the increase. This setback in our educational system has an adverse effect on Nigeria growth and development. This is because the growth and development of any nation is dependent upon by the level of their educational system (Hoxby, 2012).
Though many educators and people in general have debated on the number of students a teacher can work effectively to ensure students’ adequate learning. Most people would agree that having few students to teacher ratio would benefit the students academically, while many will also argue that it does not guarantee success and would not cost school a great deal or more money (Dean, 2014). Students’ achievement applies to making sure that all students have the necessary skills and knowledge to function in school so that they may also succeed as adult (National Education Association, 2016).
Anderson (2012) asserted that, one of the key factors which have direct bearing on students’ academic achievement in schools is the number of students taught together in a class within a range of increasing accountability and limited educational funding. Providing right ratio of teachers to students in a class is a critical factor for academic achievement of students in schools.
Class size according to Adeyemi (2014), is an educational tool that can be described as an average number of students per class in a school. A lot of argument has gone on the influence of class size on academic performance, some fingering over – crowded class size as the main factor responsible for falling standard of education, most especially in the elementary level of education. The author observed that over-crowing in the classroom accounts for the poor performance of students in examination.
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Class size is an important factor with respect to academic performance of students. The recommended class size according to UNICEF is 1-35. However in Nigeria, the National Policy on Education (2004) recommends a class size of 1:50 in secondary schools. Meanwhile, class size can be classified as small or large size. In this study, a class is large when the total number of students in the class is more than fifty (50) and small if there are less than 50 students per class in secondary schools.
Offorma (2015) posited that large classes have too many students for one teacher while over crowded classes have too many students from a limited space. However, large or overcrowded class poses problems to the teachers. Several studies have revealed the effect of class size on teaching/learning.
Dallas (2014), argued that large class size place heavier burden on the teachers and makes him/her ineffective. Many researchers have recommended class size that is small in order to enhance the teacher’s effectiveness as well as improves students’ academic performance. This study is therefore examine the influence of class size on academic performance of Biology students in senior secondary schools in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Education contributes greatly to the development of any nation and its serves as bedrock of any society. Biology as a subject occupies a very important position in the senior secondary school curriculum in Nigeria, it is a core subject offered at the senior secondary school certificate examination. It remains a solid foundation for students preparing for microbiology, anatomy, medicine and surgery, physiology, etc.
The issue of class size is increasingly becoming a subject of concern and controversy among educationist. Great number of scholars feel that with so many students in school today due to free and compulsory education, it qualitative education cannot be achieved. On this, education planners, teachers, school administrators and parents believe that class size existing in our school may contribute to poor academic performance of students since it imposes problems that affect appropriate teaching method, using relevant instructional materials, causing examination malpractices and also source of distracting students focus from lesson (Ekere and Okon, 2016).
Researchers and scholars have also investigated the factors responsible for the poor performance of students in the subject. Among the factors identified were teachers’ qualification, unconducive environment, lack of libraries, wrong teaching methods adopted by some teachers and school management. To ameliorate these problems, government, teachers, parents and some educational agencies and organization have made concerted efforts to improve on the performance of students in Biology.
This has been in the areas of recruitment of qualified and competent teachers to teach Biology, construction of dilapidated classrooms to make the environment conducive as well as equpping of libraries in schools with modern textbooks to facilitate learning. All these efforts notwithstanding, the academic performance of students in the subject is still on the decline (Hoxby, 2012).
However, it is on the expectation that the size of the class could also exert an influenced on students’ academic performance in Biology. It is as a result of the above reasons that the researcher is motivated to conduct a study on influence of class size on academic performance of Biology students in senior secondary schools in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of class size on academic performance of Biology students in senior secondary schools in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
Specifically, the sought to:
(i) examine the influence of class size on academic performance of Biology students in senior secondary schools.
(ii) ascertain the influence of small class size on academic performance of male and female students in senior secondary schools.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study would be of immense benefits to the followings:
The study would be of help to teachers to gain insight into the quantity and quality of learning materials that could be used in a class with specific number of learners.
Education policy makers would find it useful to adopt a conscious class size policy of 1:35 in line with the provision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004) as stated in the National Policy on Education.
The study will be useful to school principals in deciding on the number of students to be admitted into each class in any given time.
Government will also find this study as a useful guide in deciding on the spread of infrastructure such as the quantity of classrooms that will be adequate for the available and anticipated school enrolment.
It will provide comprehensive information for educational planners, educators and parents on how they can assist students to cope in large classes.
The result of this study will also help teachers to know the instructional technique that would help students in a large class to participate actively during lesson. It will serve as a reference point for further researchers on class size.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions were raised to guide the study:
(i) To what extent does the performance of students taught Biology in small class size differ from those taught in a large class size in secondary schools?
(ii) To what extent does academic performance of male students taught Biology in small class size differ from their female counterparts taught in the same class size?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.
(i) There is no significant difference between the academic performance of students taught Biology in a small class size and those taught in a large class size.
(ii) There is no significant difference between the academic performance of male and female students taught Biology in a small class size.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
The major limitation encountered in the study were:
Inadequate Finance – The lean financial resources at the disposal of the researcher affected the scope of the work. This is because of the inability of the researcher to acquire enough funds needed for the expansion of the work and this was why few schools were selected from the study area.
Time Frame – The time allocated for the completion of the project was not enough and this posed a serious stress on the researcher.
Lack of Empirical Material – Research materials regarding the topic were grossly scarce and this affected the timely completion of the work.
1.8 Delimitation of the Study
The study was delimited to the influence of class size on academic performance of Biology students in senior secondary schools in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area. It was also restricted to selected public senior secondary schools two (SSS 2) students in the area.
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
The following terms used by the researcher were conceptualized as follows:
Class Size – This refers to the total number of students in a class at a given time under the supervision of a single teacher.
Large Class Size – This is a large number of students in a class above fifty (50) at a given time under the guidance of a specific teacher.
Small Class Size – This is a small number of students in a class fewer than fifty (50) at a given time under the guidance of a specific teacher.
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Gender – This refers to the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between, male (masculinity) and female (femininity).
Academic Performance – This is commonly measure by the score of the students in an examination or continuous assessment. It is also the outcome of test, examination as it determine the extent to which a students has achieve the educational goals.
Biology – This is defined as the natural science that study life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution.
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
Influence of Class Size on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools
