Effect Of Qualification Of Basic Science Teachers On Students’ Academic Achievement In External Examination In Oshimili South LGA Of Delta State

ABSTRACT

The study examined the effect of qualification of basic science teachers on students academic achievement in external examination. Using simple random sampling techniques, 80 teachers of basic science from twenty {20} schools were selected in oshimili south local government area delta state. A self designed questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. It was observed that the performance of students were negatively affected if their teachers are not qualified. However, for those that have qualified teachers their case was different. It was recommended that there should be training of teachers in seminar, conferences and workshops to provide pedagogical skills, knowledge and values. Government should motivate basic science teachers as their counterparts in other works of life. 

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Teaching science in a way that reflects its fundamental nature is very demanding. Teaching science at the secondary level is characterized by dissemination of the body of scientific knowledge to students who often listen passively to the science teachers. The result of this is that such students do not perform well in external and internal examination that often involves use of science process skills. In addition, to cognitive aspects as observed by Jegede, Okebukola and Ajewole(2008).

An important part of the Nigeria education system is the junior secondary education. It is a program of three(3) years benefitted by children whose age’s ranges from 11to 13 years. A core course on its curriculum is basic science, otherwise known as integrated science in tertiary institutions. The practice oriented subject is included so as to develop critical thinking skills in young ones. Teaching and learning of this subject, one is supposed to ensure inculcation of scientific literacy, that is basic understanding of and capability of science, exposure of the beneficiaries to the world of science, their interest for discovery and solution to problems in their daily lives scientifically.

Student’s poor performances at the senior secondary school level in science subjects shows that everything is not well with education received by students at the junior secondary school level. That they performed poorly in subjects like physics and mathematics could only mean that they have not been properly groomed in basic science at the junior secondary school level.

The poor performance of students at the junior secondary level will have serious consequences among which is inability of the student to meet the requirements for admission into higher institutions. Ferguson and O’Neil(2007) emphasized that teachers qualification and other school variables may play an important role in what students learn.

Obanya(2008) asserted that quality of an educational system depends on the quality of teachers. In a different study Ferguson(2007) found that the single largest factor affecting academic growth of students is difference in effectiveness of individual classroom teachers.

According to Harns and Sass(2011), it is accepted in general that providing teacher quality is a key element in improving secondary school education. Other researchers have maintained that the quality of the educational system depends on the quality and devotions of its teaching work force.

Research finding have also established that teaching experience is a positively correlated with learning outcome. Harns and Sass(2011) affirmed that teachers with years of experience in the profession turned out students with higher performance in external examinations. This is due to fact that these teachers are able to harmonize the mind and emotions of students in class.

So far, much effort seems to have been directed at mathematics and English language which are two key subjects extremely important for the advancement of education in Nigeria universities. There is dearth if effort, if any at all towards determining the quality of teacher at the secondary schools, particularly in subjects likes basic science. The present study sets out to fill the gap.

Statement of problem

The problem of this study concern establishing the degree of correlation if any between teacher’s quality and junior secondary school students performance in basic science at external examination.

Any activity directed towards ensuring quality in basic science at the junior secondary school level is worthwhile. This is so, as it will go a long way in determining students performance in science subjects at external examination whose outcome is used by many as a yardstick for measuring the entire secondary education in Nigeria.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is generally to identify the effects of qualification of basic science teachers on the performance of secondary school students.

The study specifically seeks to:

1. Find out the extent to which the qualification of basic science teachers affects junior secondary school students in external examination.
2. Find out the extent of how imbalance in the distribution of basic science teachers affects the performance of the secondary school students in external examination.
3. Find out the measures that could be adopted to enhancethe performance of secondary school students in external examination.

Research questions

The research questions of this study are:

1. To what extent does the qualification of basic science teachers affects the performance of junior secondary school students in eternal examination.
2. To what extent does the imbalance in the distribution of qualified basic science teachers affects the performance of junior secondary school students in external examination.
3. What measures could be adopted to enhance the performance of students in external examination

Significance of the study

The result of the research is going to provide necessary information and contribute some knowledge which may be of help to the state and federal government to make a policy that will curb the high rate of unqualified science teachers in the country. The researcher will also provide the general information the importance of training science specialists who are capable of offering the best to science students in junior secondary schools and also the importance of employing only the professionals.

The researcher also provides the public and mostly basic science teachers on the best way to take in order to avoid half baked graduates in basic science.

Scope and limitation of the study

This study is centered on some selected public secondary schools in oshimili south local government area of Delta state.

It is limited to the effect of the qualification of basic science teachers on the performance of secondary schools students in external examinations.

Pages:  41

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.