school environment and on the academic performance of students in secondary school

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 has role to play when it comes to 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.

School’s physical environment in the other hand includes the school building and the surrounding grounds, such as noise, temperature, and lighting as well as physical, biological, or chemical agents.  The alarming increase in the number of students with asthma is one problem that may, in part, be affected by poor physical conditions in schools.

        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 especially business studies.  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.

        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.

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 behavior, 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 variables as it affect students performance in business studies.

1.2    Statement of the Problem

In Lagos State of Nigeria, some school environment dotted with dilapidated building, equipped with outdated facilities and teachers at times work under unsafe condition. It is not unusual to find teachers and student interacting academically under collapsed school building. Likewise student are sometime left with no option but to receive lessons under poor ventilated classroom, poor lighting and sound system, large class size, because of lack of structures (building) and teachers are poorly motivated resulting to decline number of teacher in the school environment.

The issue of poor academic performance of students in business studies in Nigerian schools has been of much concern to the government, parents, teachers and even student 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).

Emphasizing the importance of school resources to students academic performance, 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.

The high levels of students’ academic performance may not be guaranteed where instructional space such as classrooms, libraries, technical workshops and laboratories are structurally defective. However, little is known on the impact of school variables on students’ academic performance in business studies in L.G.A of Lagos State.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study is to examine school environment and on the academic performance of students in secondary school in…. L.G.A of …… Lagos State. specifically, this study seeks to examine:

1. The relationship between school climate and the student academic performance
2. The impact of school facilities on the academic performance of  students  in the secondary school
3. the factors such as class size that have been perceived to promote or inhibit students learning in the academic process of students in secondary school
4. whether teacher use of instructional materials enhance students academic performance.

1.4     Research Questions

1. Is there any relationship between school climate and the student academic performance?
2. To what extent do school facilities affect student performance in secondary school?
3. What effect does class size has on the academic performance of students in secondary school?
4. To what extent do instructional materials influence academic performance students?

1.5     Research Hypothesis

i.      There is no significant relationship between school climate and the student academic performance

ii.      There is no significant relationship between school facilities and academic performance  of students

iii.     There is no significant relationship between class size and academic performance of students

iv.     There is no significant relationship between teacher’s use of instructional materials and academic performance in English language.

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 their academic goals. In so doing, they can investigate the possibility of introducing those factors to their school, which may consequently lead to enhancing students’ educational outcomes in school. 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 secondary school.

1.7     Scope of the Study

This research work focuses on school variables and academic business studies students academic performance of secondary school students in some selected schools in  ….. Local Government Area of Lagos State. This research work  covers all public secondary schools students in ………… Local Government Area of Lagos State.

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 ………….. Local Government Area of …….. State as the title suggest.

1.10   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.

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