LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON BIOLOGY STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AKWANGA LGA OF NASARAWA STATE

The performance in Biology in public secondary schools has been poor and the purpose of this study was to identify factors responsible for the poor performance. The study also identified ways in which teachers envisage improving performance. The qualitative research methodology was adopted. Data were collected from four schools through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed from the perspective of the General System Theory. The study results the show that biology performance was affected by factors such as human, environmental, information, financial resources, and the transformation processes. The study also suggests ways of improving performance. 

1.1 Background of the study 8 

1.2 Statement of the Problem 13 

1.3 The thrust of the study evolved answer to this question. 13

1.4 Significance of the study 14 

1.5 The following research questions were raised to guide the study: 16 

1.6 Research Hypotheses 16 1.6 Scope of the Study 17 

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms 17 

1.8 Organization of The Study 18 

CHAPTER TWO 

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE  

2.1 Introduction 19 

2.2 Theoretical Review 19 

2.3 Secondary School Education 23 

2.4 Students’ Academic Achievement in Biology Subject in Secondary Schools 24 

2.5 Empirical Review 29 

CHAPTER THREE  

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY  

3.0 Research design 33 

3.1 Sources of data collection 33 

3.2Population of the study 34 

3.3 Sample and sampling procedure 34 

3.4 Instrument for data collection 35 

3.5 Validation of the research instrument 35 

3.6 Method of data analysis 36 

4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis and Results 38 

4.1.1 Answering of Research Question 38 

4.1.2. Testing of Hypotheses 39 

4.2 Discussion of The Findings 42 

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS  

5.1 Introduction 44 

5.2 Summary 44 

5.3 Conclusion 45 

5.4 Recommendations 45 

5.5 Limitations 46 

REFERENCE 48 

Appendices 50 

Learning is enhance when given in a conducive environment ,if the classroom environment is conducive and has all necessary learning facilities that is ,the more conducive school environment is, the greater the opportunity to learn ,in other words, a bare and hostile classroom and school environment offer little stimulation to learning (Anyanwu and Izuagba 2009).The school environment includes the class room libraries , laboratories, football field, building, peers, teaching method, teachers quarters, technical workshop,etc The environment here includes both physical psychological and social environment, mutual relationship between the students and the teachers. The environment should be made to suit the purpose of learning. The teacher/learner is at center of the teaching and learning process; all energies spent by the teacher in and outside the classroom and in the school environment are aimed at ensuring positive all round development. 

Thus, the school is an established institution where the behavior of a child is shaped to get him equipped for a meaningful living in the society, the school environment should possess features essential for achieving the goals of education. In essence, the following areas of the school are recognized to have positive influence on the academic performance of the child, the school building, the school infrastructure, and the school personnel.(Izuagba and Obiefuna 2009) Glassman (2000) asserted that comfortable and caring environment among other treatment helps to enhance students academic performance, The school facilities and infrastructures are essential for the realization of the educational objectives, facilities such as white board, projector, notice board, clock, bell, chairs, tables, desk, first aid box, textbooks etc, are necessary for effective administration of schools, School environment refers to the instructional administrative circulation and therefore school environment remains an important area that should be studied and well managed to enhance students academic performance (Oluchukwu 2000). 

The extent to which students learning could be enhanced depends on their interaction within the school premises, the structure of their classroom, availability of instructional facilities and accessories (Ajao, 2000), it is believed that a well-planned school will gear up expected outcome of education that will facilitate good political and economic emancipation, effective teaching and learning process and academic performance of the students. Environment is one of the major factor that determine an individual’s capacity to learn and also provides basis for success in future achievement, therefore, this calls for conceited efforts on the parts of the parents, educators and government to provide adequate school facilities such as well-equipped laboratories, functional libraries, and sporting facilities to enhance the intellectual and academic performance of the school effects on teachers, students and the learning process, poor ventilation ,noise, high penetration of carbon dioxide into the classroom, inconsistent temperature makes teaching and learning difficult, poor maintenance and ineffective ventilation system leads to poor health among students as well as teachers which inevitable leads to poor health among students as well as teachers which inevitably lead to poor academic performance believe that these factors can adversely affect students behaviour and also lead to rate of frustration among teachers and poor leaning attitude among student. 

The academic performance of students in Nigeria has been of great concern to the government, teachers, parent and the students themselves, the standard of education does not depend only on the teacher as reflected in the performance of their duties but also in the effective co—ordination of the school environment (Ajao,2000) Beyond the direct effect which these inadequate facilities have on students ability to learn , it’s combination with other facilities such as instructional aid and infrastructure creates uncomfortable frustrating work space for teacher as well as unconducive atmosphere for the students which manifests in poor concentration and hyperactivity, thereby creating a stressful set of working condition for teachers (Ajayi, 2003). 

Therefore stress and job dissatisfaction are common precursors which lowers teachers, hence the above mentioned characteristics of school facilities have effects upon the academic performance of the students ,the school cannot operate in isolation of its immediate social, physical environment, this is because what happen in the immediate environment help to determine the curriculum and the quality of teachers available to the school at any point in time. 

The nature of environment students passes through can either hinder or facilitate his ability at acquiring knowledge (Ajayi, 2003) Frazier (2002), Opined that the Psycho-Socio Physical Factors that affect learning are; The learning environment, The learning, The teacher The physical factor in learning deals with the environment where actual teaching and learning takes place physical factors are completely outside the learners control ,most of the child’s teaching and learning normally take place either in the classroom or laboratory, therefore, there is need for a productive learning environment which according to; Arends (2005), is one where students have positive attitude towards themselves and their classroom that is their fellow student or peers and where they display a high degree of academic performance ,both motivation and involvement, in academic tasks. 

Teacher’s decision and action also help to shape the classroom environment .the class room environment must be designed to support intellectual risk taking and foster intrinsic motivation so that students will be creative and self-reliance in their learning .Teachers have to create the right attitude in students towards learning and to gain their leadership functions as enabling activities that is establishing the condition and interacting with students in ways that enhance their learning (Miller2010). To this end, there is need to study the influence of school environment on the academic performance of biology students in Akwanga local Government area of Nasarawa State, 

Most schools are faced with problems such as inadequate libraries, classroom, staffroom, laboratory, teaching equipment’s like instructional aids, and technical workshop. 

These problems have posed great challenges to the teaching and learning process and also hinder the academic performance of Nigerian students. It is generally believed that if the learning environment is conducive, and availability of teaching materials, biology students in secondary schools will be more educated and there will be less risk of low academic performance, hence does the inadequacy, associated With inadequate libraries, classroom, teaching equipment among other hinder academic performance of biology students in Akwanga local Government area of Nasarawa State? 

1.3 The thrust of the study evolved answer to this question. 

 The general objective of this study is to examine the learning environment and its impact on biology students’ academic achievement in secondary school in Akwanga LGA Nasarawa State. Specifically, the study sought to: 

1. To find out the extent to which school teaching equipment and instructional materials influence student academic achievement. 

2. To find out the rate to which school Location affect the academic performance of biology student in secondary school 

3. To identify the influence of class size on the academic performance of student in secondary school. 

 The findings of this study will be immense benefit to teachers, students, guidance counselor, the school, parents, Governments. 

With the help of the study the teachers should develop and establish instructional programmes, make use of instructional aids, establish effective method of teacher and adopt good leadership style. 

To the Students 

This study will enable the students to observe and recognize some school environment factor and the effect on their academic performance. It will also help them to make appropriate amendment where necessary.

The result of this study will help parents to contribute to the up keep and development of the school environment financially and materially through the organization of parent teacher Association (PTA) a meeting conducted in school. 

Guidance counselors will benefit from this study it will enable this group of people to lead the student in their right and appropriate future career base on their academic performance. 

The result of this study will help the school to appreciate the usefulness and benefit of conducive school environment for biology student it will also create room for proper amendment awareness and comparison among different schools. 

The following research questions were raised to guide the study: