Abstract: This study examined comparative analysis of academic performance of students in junior secondary school certificate examination in physical and health education. The population of the study comprising of all the Mathematics students in junior secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area which was about 4068 in six public schools, 250 students were chosen to be the sample size through random technique. Students’ achievement test in Physical and health education was the major instruments for the study. Independent t-test was used to calculate the data collected from the students.
Comparative Analysis Of Academic Performance Of Students In Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination In Physical And Health Education
It was indicated that environmental variables really influenced the teaching of Physical and Health Education in junior secondary school finally, it was recommended among others that stated government should provide adequate materials resources to urban and rural locations to enhance teaching of Physical and Health
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Schools are established for the purpose of teaching and learning. It is also more important that the teachers and learners are property accommodated to facilitate the teaching and learning that go on there. This is the essence of the school plant and facilities (Alimi, 2004). Therefore school facilities are the space interpretation and physical expression of the school curriculum in Nigeria at large and in Akwa Ibom State schools, ownership are expected to function in compliance with the achievement of the nation educational objectives.
To this end, students are expected to perform brilliantly in the final examination as this determines the quality of output of soc±-, schools. This is one of the parameters used to measure the effectiveness of a school system. The better the performance of the students the more effectiveness of a school system. The better the performance of the students the more effective the system is assumed to be, (Philas & Wanjobi, 2011).
In another related study, Cynthia and Megan (2008) confirmed a strong and positive relationship between quality of school facilities and student achievement in English and mathematics. In Nigeria, it is the general opinion of people that private schools are better in terms of the availability of human and physical facilities and consequently students’ performance than public schools. However, problems as well as factors affecting the learning and academic performance in Physical Education in primary schools vary from school to school, individual to individual, year to year, age to age and from one line of attitude or interest of the students and concept to another.
Among the drawback in the system of education is the “school variables”. This is because, school play an important role towards students academic performance in their subject especially in Physical and Health Education (Bakare, 2006).
According to Ajayl (2003) school should be a place where students are engaged in interesting and stimulating activities relevant to their life styles apart from the normal academic activities in the classroom. This is so because the aim of education is to among others, promote the emotional, physical and psychological health of all children. This school variable describes the school psychological environment or what others have referred to as “school cultures or the school climate” (Durosaro, 2005).
The emphasis here is on the individual or student operating within a given educational context. The academic setting is considered by students as an extension of their personal resources and that it serves to reduce anxiety and negative effect that can arise in achievement settings.
Stressing the Importance of environmental variables, Damina (2005) is of the view that good schooling fosters psychological growth that contributes to the quality of life beyond the vocational domain. Stretching his position further he stated that the goal of formal education should be to equip students with intellectual tools, efficacy, beliefs and intrinsic interest to educate themselves In a variety of. pursuit throughout their lifetime.
Students’ educational outcome and academic success is greatly influenced by the types & school that they attend. School variables include school facilities, school building, school social climate, teacher’s qualification, etc. the school one attends is the Institutional environment that sets the parameters of a students learning experience. He also added that students’ conditions are also part of the school variable which are social class, teachers- students’ relationship and prior learning values and attitudes, etc.
(Potter, 2003) Crosnoe et al (2004) defines school climate as the general atmosphere of school. School climate is closely related to the interpersonal relations between students and teachers. Trust between students and teachers Increases If the school encourages teamwork. Research shows that students who trust their teachers are more motivated and as a result perform better in school (Crosnoe, 2004). School policies and programmes often dictate school climate. If a school is able t accomplish a feeling of safety, students can have success despite their family or neighbourhood background. Based on the following,, this study sought to examine school variables and the teaching of physical and health education in secondary school in Abak Local Government Area.
Comparative Analysis Of Academic Performance Of Students In Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination In Physical And Health Education
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Students’ performance is a key factor in the learning process, it is influenced by many schools variables such as school facilities, library facilities, school budding, teacher’s qualification and school social climate among others. These mentioned factors become the problem that enhances effective academic performance of students in Physical and health education, especially in the selected secondary schools. Also Physical education as a core subject which its role cannot be over emphasize effort is not made to assess the level of performance of students in the subject that they learn.
The condition under which students learning differ from time to time and from place to place and does not encourage students’ performance In order to understand these conditions, we must understand the relation that holds between people and their surroundings so that any intelligent behaviour is possible. Therefore, this study seeks to determine how environmental variables help in the teaching of physical and health education in secondary schools.
