ABSTRACT
This
study examines the impact of learning environment on students’ academic
achievement in economics. Factors such as school facilities, class size, school
location and school plant planning were examined to know their impact on the
academic achievement of students in economics. Questionnaire was administered
to test the hypotheses developed. Simple percentage statistical tool was
employed to analyze the variables. Based on the findings, it was discovered
that poor school facilities, large class size, inappropriate school location,
and poor school plant planning negatively affects students’ academic
performance. Recommendations were made to address the issues of school learning
facilities, classroom population, school location and proper school plant
planning.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitation of the Study
1.9 Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Theoretical Background
2.1 Concept of School Environment and
Academic Performance
2.2 Correlation between School Facilities and
Academic Performance
2.3 Relationship between School Plant Planning
and Students’ Academic Performance
2.4 Relationship between Class Size and
Students Academic Performance
2.5 School Location as Correlate of Students
Academic Performance in Economics
2.6 Appraisal of Literature
CHAPTER THREE: Research Methodology
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population
of the Study
3.3 Sample and Sampling Technique
3.4 Instrument
of Data Collection
3.5 Validity
of the Instrument
3.6 Reliability
of the Instrument
3.7 Procedure
for Data Collection
3.8 Procedure
of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS
4.0 Results and Summary of Findings
4.1 Answers to Research Questions/Testing of
Hypothesis
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusions
And
Recommendations
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
References
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The school environment, which include the
classrooms, libraries, technical workshops, laboratories, teachers’ quality,
school management, teaching methods, peers, etc are variables that affect
students’ academic achievement (Ajayi, 2001 and Oluchukwu, 2000). Hence, the school environment remains an
important area that should be studied and well managed to enhance students’
academic performance.
The issue of poor academic performance of
students in Nigeria has been of much concern to the government, parents,
teachers and even students themselves. The quality of education not only
depends on the teachers as reflected in the performance of their duties, but
also in the effective coordination of the school environment (Ajao 2001). It
has also been observed that adequate attention is now being paid to school
plant planning throughout the world’s educational systems including Nigeria.
Educational facilities such as school plant have been repeatedly found to have
positive relationship with standard and quality of educational system. (Ojedele,
2000).
Nigeria as a nation strives to experience
real growth and development. This requires a clearly defined development
strategy that allows intensive utilization of resources which is endowed. These
resources are the various school physical facilities that are indispensable in
the educational process. They include the sitting, the building and physical
equipment, recreation places for the achievement of educational objectives
(Oluchuckwu, 2000).
School environment which include
instructional spaces planning, administrative places planning, circulation
spaces planning, spaces for conveniences planning, accessories planning, the
teachers as well as the students themselves are essential in teaching-learning
process. The extent to which student learning could be enhanced depends on
their location within the school compound, the structure of their classroom,
availability of instructional facilities and accessories. It is believed that a
well planned school will gear up expected outcomes of education that will
facilitate good social, political and economic emancipation, effective teaching
and learning process and academic performance of the students.
Relating this study to international
occurrences are the assertions of Williams, Persaud & Turner (2008),
quoting Marsden (2005), which reported that safe and orderly classroom
environment (aspect of instructional space), School facilities (accessories)
were significantly related to students’ academic performance in elementary
schools. The three researchers, also quoted Glassman (1994), asserting that a
comfortable and caring environment among other treatments helped to contribute
to students` academic performance.
The physical characteristics of the school
have a variety of effects on teachers, students, and the learning process. Poor
lighting, noise, high levels of carbon dioxide in classrooms, and inconsistent
temperatures make teaching and learning difficult. Poor maintenance and
ineffective ventilation systems lead to poor health among students as well as
teachers, which leads to poor performance and higher absentee rates (Frazier,
2002 Lyons, 2001; and Ostendorf, 2001). These factors can adversely affect student
behavior and lead to higher levels of frustration among teachers, and poor
learning attitude among student.
Beyond the direct effects that poor
facilities have on students’ ability to learn, the combination of poor
facilities, which create an uncomfortable and uninviting workplace for
teachers, combined with frustrating behavior by students including poor
concentration and hyperactivity, lethargy, or apathy, creates a stressful set
of working conditions for teachers. Because stress and job dissatisfaction are
common pre-cursors to lowered teacher enthusiasm, it is possible that the aforementioned
characteristics of school facilities have an effect upon the academic
performance of students in economics.
Previous studies have investigated the
relationship of poor school environment including problems with student-teacher
ratio, school location, school population, classroom ventilation, poor lighting
in classrooms, and inconsistent temperatures in the classroom with student
health problems, student behaviour, and student achievement (Crandell &
Smaldino, 2000; Davis, 2001; Johnson, 2001; Lyons, 2001;Moore, 2002; Stricherz,
2000; Tanner, 2000). To complement these studies, the present research will
examine the aforementioned areas of school environment as it affect students
performance in economics.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Emphasizing the importance of school
environment to students academic performance economics, Oluchukwu, (2000)
asserted school environment is an essential aspect of educational planning, he
went further to explain that “unless schools are well suited, buildings adequately
constructed and equipment adequately utilized and maintained, much teaching and
learning may not take place.
Corroborating these, Mark (2002) and Ajayi
(2007), maintained that high levels of students’ academic performance may not
be guaranteed where instructional space such as classrooms, libraries,
technical workshops and laboratories are structurally defective. They also
emphasized that structural effectiveness, proper ventilation and well sited
instructional space lead to successful teaching and learning process of
students in economics.
1.3
Purpose
of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine
the relationship between school environment and the students’ academic performance.
The study also aims
i.
To examine the impact of school facilities on
the academic performance of students in economics
ii.
To explore factors such as class size that
have been perceived to promote or inhibit students learning and overall
students academic achievement in economics and
iii.
To investigate the extent to which school
location affects the academic achievement of students in economics.
1.4 Research Questions
i.
Is there any relationship between school
environment and the student academic achievement in economics?
ii.
To what extent do school facilities affect
student performance in economics?
iii.
What effect does class size has on the
academic performance of students in economics?
iv.
To what extent does school location has on
the achievement of students in economics?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
Ho1 There
is no significant difference between school environment and the students’
academic performance in economics
Ho2 There
is no significant difference between school facilities and academic performance
of students in economics
Ho3 There
is no significant difference between class size and academic performance of
students in economics
Ho4 There
is no significant difference between school location and academic performance of
students in economics
1.6 Significance of the Study
It is hoped that this study will provide
information for parents, educators and school administrators to reflect upon
various factors that help students in achieving its academics goals in
economics. In so doing, they can investigate the possibility of introducing
those factors to their school, which may consequently lead to enhancing
students’ academic performance in economics. In addition, the fact that this
study is conducted in public schools, it shares quite a lot of similarities
with many other counterparts. In this connection, this study provides a
valuable reference for other schools to reflect upon the school environment as
it affect the academic performance of student in economics.
1.7 Scope of
the Study
This research
work focuses on influence of environment on academic performance
of students in economics in some selected schools in Badagry Local Government
Area of Lagos State. This research
work covers the impact of the learning environment on students’ academic
achievement in economics in all public secondary schools students in Badagry
Local Government Area of Lagos State. However, four public secondary schools were used as case study.
1.8 Limitation
of the Study
Apart from
time-frame and shortage
of finance, the major limitation to
this research is the inability
of the researcher
to cover the whole public secondary school in Badagry
Local Government Area Of Lagos State.
1.9 Definition
of Terms
School: A school
is an institution designed for the teaching of students (or "pupils")
under the direction of teachers
School
Environment: A school's
physical environment
includes the school
building and the surrounding.
Academic Achievement – Knowledge attained or skills developed in school
subjects by test scores.
Secondary school (also
“high school") is a term used to describe an educational institution where
the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually
compulsory up to a specified age, takes place. It follows elementary or primary
education, and may be followed by university (tertiary) education.
Login To Comment