Environmental Variables And Students’ Academic Achievement In Biology
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The environment plays a significant role in human development. Thus, there are several factors in the learner’s surrounding which can exert some forms of influence on his or her learning. This implies that for learning to take place, there must be a conducive environment for the learner to study. the environment here can be school or home environment. But for the sake of this study, the researcher will focus on home environment. Home, is the first place a child commune with and the first informal school the child attends. This is the reason why parents are regarded as the child’s first and most important teachers throughout the child’s life in schools (Nash, 1988).
As teachers in their homes, parents are expected to provide conducive environment in their homes. The family environment is therefore, very important, since it is the first the child encounters. The learning environment could be rich or poor. How rich the environment depends on a number of factors such as the physical environment, the financial position of the family, the quality and quantity of feeding and the parents attitude and interest toward their wards.
Environmental Variables And Students’ Academic Achievement In Biology
Besides it is pertinent to stress that the home environment in which a child brought up plays a very important role in the academic performance of pupil. The facilities and materials present at homes can enhance a quick learning process of a child. The nutritional pattern and staffs of the home environment cannot be overemphasized. The quality of feeding given to children plays a key role in the mental development of a child which in turns affects the child learning process. The caring and loving level of the parents which we described as parental attitude and interest also plays a key role in the development of a child learning process.
Parents, as we said earlier are the child’s first teacher. Their actions and inactions can make or mar their children future. Therefore, parent attitude and interest toward their wards school activities can enhance or hinders their academic performance in school. Parents relationship with their children with their wards in terms of talking, monitoring of their academic activities, provision of school materials etc greatly affect their academic achievement. Hence, this study will also look at parent attitude and interest as one of sub-variable under consideration.
Biology as we all know is a subject that deals with the study of living things which include plants and animals. It is a fastinating study that ranges from microscopic cellular molecules to the biosphere, encouraging the earth’s surface and its living organism (Sarogini, 2010). Biology is a core subjects that is mandatory in all secondary schools in Nigeria as it is a pre-requisite to the study of marry courses relevant to humanity which include the following: Medicine, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Agriculture, Anatomy, Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Micro-Biology, Cell Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Immunology, Molecular Biology Evolutionary, Genetics and Population Dynamic among others.
Looking at the aforementioned, it is clearing that home environment is the first informal school which the child got in contact with after birth, and as such should be properly organized so that the child can utilized enough benefit for it. Therefore, this research work will look at how home environment variables or factors influence the academic performance of students in Biology.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Over the years there have been incessant poor performance of students in secondary school in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Students at this level of education performs below expectation or average in both internal and external examinations.
This poor performance is in all subjects; Integrated Science inclusive. This problem has given concerned to the stakeholders of education at that level. The teachers themselves are putting in their effort to see to it that the teaching processes are effectively carried out the materials too are provided through not in full scale.
Therefore, after a careful assessment of the school system and the students, the problems of home environment was diagnosed to be the major problem. Therefore, this study will look at how this problem influence the academic performance of students in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of home environment on the academic performance of students in Biology.
Specifically, this study will;
(a) Determine the influence of physical environment on students academic performance in Biology.
(b) Assess the influence of nutrition on Students academic performance in Biology.
(c) Examine the influence of parents attitude and interests on students academic performance in Biology.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This study will be of immense benefit to the school system because it will help expose those factors that hinders students academic performance apart from those from the system itself.
Besides, the study will be of great importance to the immunity of education because the problem of home environment will be exposed and the recommendations adhere to. Apart from that, the parents will benefits immensely because they will now know those areas which the can help in improving the well being of their children and also their academic performance.
Finally, the study will acts as a stepping stone for further studies in this area as it affects other level of education and other Local Government Areas vis–à-vis states of the federation.
Environmental Variables And Students’ Academic Achievement In Biology
Originally posted on July 27, 2021 @ 2:56 pm