SCHOOL VARIABLES AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION

SCHOOL VARIABLES AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION
SCHOOL VARIABLES AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION

ABSTRAC: The study investigated the influence of school variables on students’ academic performance in Physical and Health Education in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. An expo facto research design was adopted for the study. Four out of twenty two secondary schools (ten public and twelve private) in the study area were randomly selected. A sample size of two hundred (200) JSS 3 Physical and Health Education students were purposively sampled. Instrument used for data collection was students’ raw scores of their JSSCE result of 2013/2014 academic session. The research hypotheses were analyzed using independent t-test statistics. Findings from the study revealed that school variables (such as school types and school location) have a positive influence on students’ academic performance. As such, students from private schools performed significantly better than their counterparts in public schools and also students from urban schools outperformed significantly better than their counterparts in rural schools. It was then recommended that; government should provide necessary facilities/equipment in both private and public schools irrespective of the location.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

A school system such as the secondary school is an essential state in the educational hierarchy of the society. It ensures among others that students are effectively equipped for the posing challenge of the present era of science and technology (National Policy on Education, 2004). To attain the aforementioned goals, the school variables such as; school type, school location, class size, teacher-students interaction etc should be considered. Since there are numerous school variables, this work is limited to the school type and school location.

The type of school a child attends is very important in influencing the educational outcome of the child. For over four decades, series of studies examined school types and their attendant consequences on achievement of students various states of the Federation. Buckingham (2000) in his write-up, addressed that public, private, boarding and non-boarding schools are different types of schools where learners can learn and advice their educational goals and objectives. He further stressed that students from independent private schools are more likely to achieve higher end of school scores. Studies have also shown and found out that students that attend private schools are academically sound than students from public schools because they have good quality teachers, good infrastructures and conducive environment in the school. In some instances, increased population of students in physical and Health education has contributed to the poor performance in physical and health education. Public schools on the other hand enroll more students than they can cope and that may have contributed in no small measure to poor performance of students compared to private schools. Research findings on the influence of students’ academic performance are rather controversial. However, Ajayi (2004), found out that school types make a difference in students’ academic performance.

Considering the location of schools, for decades now students have suggested that importance of school as a social environment of leaning. Some of these studies examined location planning and their attendants’ consequences on academic achievement of students in various states of the Federation. The studies were intended to decide where a particular school should be located; the size of the schools in each location; whether a new school should be built or not (Mbakwe, 2006). Tanimowo (2005) observed that the distribution of public secondary schools in the state shows disorder, lack of planning and inefficiency. The inefficiency here refers to students’ academic achievement. In line with Onakerhoraye (2004) emphasized that lack of suitable school location has contributed to the imbalance of Western education from one part of the country to another. Writing on the importance of school, Ojoawo (2009) found that it is one of the potent factors that influence the distribution of educational resources and academic achievement of students. Throwing light on location influence, Mbakwe (2006) conceptualized urban school location as those environments which high population density containing a high variety of beauty and common place views. He further identified the rural school location as being characterized by low population density containing a low variety and isolated place views. Owolabi (2000) accentuated that our highly qualified teachers prefer to serve in urban centres rather than rural areas as a corollary of the above, Orebiyi (2001) teachers do not accept posting to the rural areas because their conditions are not up to the expected standard as the social life in the areas is virtually restricted as a result of inadequate amenities, facilities are deficient, playground are without equipment, libraries are not equipped while laboratories are full of improvised materials.

Hence, to achieve a qualitative and improved academic performance of students in Physical and Health Education, school variables must be thoroughly considered. Therefore, this work seeks to investigate whether private and public schools together with rural and urban schools location influence the academic performance of Physical and Health Education students in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The fact that students’ performance in Physical and Health Education is no more a news, several researchers have reported the downward trend in the performance of Nigerian students in sport. Oloruntegbe and Orifa (2001) affirmed this that only the result of students in Physical and Health Education is getting worse but also the recipient are getting progressively unscientific in their tough pattern and approach to solving problems. Consequently, some parents prefer that their children should remain in private schools for their secondary education, while some prefer public schools throughout their secondary school education. Still on this issue, some parents allow their wards to remain in urban schools for their secondary education, while other prefer rural secondary schools for better academic performance in Physical and Health Education.

It was based on this that the researcher carried out the study to investigate how school variables affect academic performance of students in Physical and Health Education in Ukanafun Local Government Area

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study was to find out the influence of school variables on students’ academic performance in Physical and Health Education in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

Specifically, the study sought to:

  1. Compare the academic performance of students in Physical and Health Education in public and private schools.
  2. Compare the academic performance of students in Physical and Health Education in rural and urban school location.

Originally posted on June 4, 2021 @ 9:36 am

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