ABSTRACT: The major aim of this study was to examine Family Variable and Students’ Academic Performance in Biology in Abak Local Government Area. It was designed specially to ascertain how socio – economic factors and family environment had affected students interest in study of Biology. To assess the impact of the study, two research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A detailed literature review was obtained from published and unpublished materials, journals internet and newspaper. Questionnaire and Biology Achievement test was the main instrument used to obtain data from the respondent.
A total of three hundred (300) respondents were selected as sample size from ten (10) selected public secondary school in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. All questionnaire and achievement test administered were dully returned by the respondents and data collected were subjected to t- test data analysis. The data analyzed and subsequent interpretation revealed that all the variable tested are example of home characteristics that influence the Academic performance of student in learning of Biology effectively.
Family Variable And Students’ Academic Performance In Biology In Abak Local Government Area
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Background of the study
The recent poor students’ performance in Biology in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) as observed by teachers and parents in Abak Local Government Area in the state prompted the researchers to carry out this research.
Several researches had been carried out in this area on the factors that contribute to the students’ performance in Biology.
According to Ekanem (2009), the most important predictor of achievement in school is associated with the parental economic background. Parental economic background (PEB) is a term used to describe the detail of a person’s family, education experience, social, cultural, educational and class background.
Again, it can be described as a variety of features in the family which the student or ward come from. These features can be divided into three major groups V12:
- Economic features
- Psychological features
- Environmental features
Economic features include the financial position of the family, parental income and the facilities of learning available in the family.
The psychological features involve nutrition, during abuse taking, cleanliness and the involvement and encouragement of the children or ward in scholastic activities.
The environment features include the residential location of the family (urban or Rural area) family size and social contacts among members of the family and the large society.
Parental background has an understanding impact on a child’s performance in Biology in secondary schools. Biology is important because it is the bedrock of knowledge in the teaching of science. Biology is one of the of the core science subject in secondary schools which requires diverse resources and a conducive environment which most of it need to be provide by the parents. If the parents are unable to source for these requirements, It could be poor performance of a child in the subject.
Moreso, the wards or children from poor home without motivation and stimulation is likely to show a set beck in learning Biology. Due to the fact that various researchers have pointed out some factors that may likely contribute to the failure of student in Biology, this research work will consider parental economic background as one of the factors that contribute to the students’ performance in Biology.
Family Variable And Students’ Academic Performance In Biology In Abak Local Government Area
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Biology is an important and compulsory subject offered in Senior Secondary Level. This vital subject is not only needed to gain admission into higher institution of learning but also forms the bedrock on which further subject of social science students depend.
The sadnews is that for a number of years now, there has been great concern expressed by teachers, parents group and government about the poor performance of students have been attributed to this poor performance but the researcher is interested in examining family variable and academic performance of secondary school students in biology, Abak Local Government Area.