ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT

          This study was designed to find out the environmental influence on students’ academic performance in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.  The research questions that were formulated to guide the study were:

1.                 Does school environment influence the academic achievement of students?

2.                 Does home environment have influence on the academic achievement of students?

3.                 Does home neighbourhood have influence on the academic achievement of students?

4.                 Does peer group have influence on the academic achievement of students?

5.                 Does parental education have influence on the academic achievement of students?

The result reveals that only parental background does not have significant influence on students’ achievement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                         i

Approval Page                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                       iii

Acknowledgement                                                                         iv

Abstract                                                                                           v

Table of Contents                                                                            vi

List of Tables                                                                                   vii

CHAPTER ONE:  INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study                                                               1

Statement of Problem                                                                     4

Research questions                                                                         4

Purpose of the Study                                                                      5

Significance of the Study                                                                6

Scope of Study                                                                                 7

Definition of Terms                                                                        8

CHAPTER TWO:  REVIEW OF LITERATURE

School Environment                                                                       9

Home environment                                                                        15

Home Neighbourhood                                                                             19

Peer Group Influence                                                                      22

Parental Educational Background                                                          25

CHAPTER THREE:  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY                 

Research Design                                                                             31

Population                                                                                       32

Sample Size and Sampling Techniques                                        32

Instrumentation                                                                              32

The Validity of the instrument                                                      33

Administration of Instrument                                                       33

Method of Data Analysis                                                               34

CHAPTER FOUR:  DATA ANALYSIS

Presentation and Discussion of Findings                                               35

Presentation of Result                                                                     35

Discussion of Result                                                                        42

CHAPTER FIVE:    SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary                                                                                         45

Conclusion                                                                                       47

Recommendations                                                                          48

References                                                                                        50

Appendix                                                                                         55

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of Study

          Today’s modern society expects everyone / students to be a high achiever.  And the key criteria to judge one’s true potentialities and capabilities are perhaps academic achievement/performance which has become an index of a child/the students’ future.  As a result, there is a great pressure on the minds of the child and their parents on how to attain the societal expectations.

          The educational institution/school that is charged with the responsibility of impacting teaching and learning processes do not exist in a vacuum.  Since it has been discovered that the student’s academic achievement is a function of various factors based on the learning environment which comprises of all the student is exposed to in the school and outside the school that can facilitate or inhibit learning.

          Hence this study is geared towards examining the conditions and possible influences of supportive environment in the home, school, neighbourhood, peer group and other environmental factors that could enhance the students’ academic achievement in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

          Poor academic performance of students have given rise to accusations and counter accusations by the government and school proprietors, the teachers as well as the parents as to who could be responsible for the problem of poor academic performance.

          The world fastest growing economic today is in Asia.  The Asian Government particular by Japan and South Korea took some desired steps to develop their educational system with a very strict assessment process.  This compels students to learn to be able to achieve high scores that can guarantee them places in choice employment.  Japan ever requires parents to take examination before their children are allowed into primary school as they believe that home is a vital contributor to the achievement of students in the school system.

          Fraser (1981) found that students learn through interacting with their environment and that most of the observable variance in students’ performance is attributed to students’ characteristics and environment of learning.  McRobbie, Roth and Lucys (1997) assert that the nature of classroom, environment can have a direct impact not only on their achievement but also on their personal-social behaviours.

          Schareider (2003) in his study counted school faulty condition to effective teaching and learning in schools.  More and Lackney (1994) in their handbook on educational facilities concluded that physical setting has both direct and mediated efforts on social and achievement outcomes.

Statement of Problem

          The Nigerian Nation is in hurry to join the league of developed and industrialized nations of the world.  To be able to attain this lofty goal, education of the citizenry had been identified as the panacea.  The question that comes to mind therefore is “Can the environment under which learning is taking place in our schools lead to the attainment of the goals of education?  More specifically, does school environment influence academic achievements?  Does the neighbourhood, peer group and parental education influence academic achievement of students?

Research Questions

          To find answers to the problem of this study, the following research questions were raised:

1.                 Does school environment influence academic achievement of students?

2.                 Does home environment influence academic achievement of students?

3.                 Does home neighbourhood/society influence academic achievement of students?

4.                 Does peer group have influence on academic achievement of students?

5.                 Does parental education influences academic achievement of students?

Purpose of Study

          The purpose of this study is to determine empirically the components of learning environment that influence academic performance of secondary school students in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.  The knowledge of these components of learning environment that influence academic performance, is to the intent that adequate recommendations as to how these factors can be manipulated to enhance higher academic performance can be determined.

          Specifically to determine if and to extent to which:

i.                   School enrolment/school environment influence academic achievement of students.

ii.                Home environment influence academic achievement of students.

iii.             Peer group influence academic achievement of students.

iv.             Home neighbourhood influence academic achievement of students.

v.                Parental education influence academic achievement of students.

Significance of Study

          The findings of this study will be of immense benefit to all major players in the education industry.  To school administrators in that it will enable them take appropriate steps to create an enabling environment that will increase the academic achievement of students.  To the parents as they will be able to know/observe the influence their home environment and neighbourhood have on their children’s academic achievement.  To the teacher(s) as they would be able to create a suitable environment that will enable the students perform in that they will be exposed to the factors within their learning environment that can enhance their academic achievement.

Scope of Study

          While it is evident from research findings that a number of factors could be responsible for students’ academic achievement.  This study considers only the factors that could be termed learning environment.  This study covers all secondary schools in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

Definition of Terms

1.       School Environment: These are the facilities, learning materials made available to the study as well as the conduciveness of the school to enhance or inhibit learning.

2.       Home Environment:  This is the availability or non-availability of facilities in the home to enhance or inhibit learning.

3.       Parental Education:  This is the degree of parent’s educational attainments with its associated social, economical and financial benefits has the capabilities to enhance or inhibit learning.

4.       House Neighbourhood:  This is the immediate community that the student lives.

5.       Academic achievement:  The mean performance of the students on the various school subjects.

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