Influence of Teachers Variables and Academic Performance of Students in Biology Secondary Schools

Influence of Teachers Variables and Academic Performance of Students in Biology Secondary Schools

ABSTRACT

The study examines the influence of teachers’ variables and academic performance of students in Biology secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area. The population for the study consisted of all the Biology teachers and senior secondary two (SS2) Biology students in all the secondary schools in the study area. The total population was and eighteen (18) Biology teachers two thousand one hundred and seven (2107) students. The study employed stratified research design in carrying out the study.

Three research questions and three research hypotheses were raise to guide the study. The sample size for the study was eighteen (18) Biology teachers and 100 Biology students drawn from all the eleven (11) secondary schools in the study area. The instrument used in gathering the needed data for the study was Teachers’ Variables and Academic Performance Questionnaire (TVAPQ) and Biology Performance Test (BPT).

Data collated was analyze using simple percentage statistical and independent t-test statistical tools. The result of the findings revealed that teachers’ variables such as qualification, years of teaching experience and gender have significant influence on academic performance of students in Biology in secondary schools in AbakLocal Government Area. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that experienced teachers with professional qualification, should teach in secondary schools especially certificate classes.

Influence of Teachers Variables and Academic Performance of Students in Biology Secondary Schools

1.1       Background of the Study

The teaching-learning process involves a vast array of interventional process at the center of which is the success of any educational programme. In spite of the technological breakthrough in audio-visual equipment, teacher have remained indispensable since they constitute the bulwark in which educational machines are made to have meaning.

There is no doubt that there has been a growing concern about quality and intellectual aims of education in Nigeria society. The school is being looked upon to bring to fruition the attainment of society backed strongly by future citizens who are consciously and innovatively oriented. It declares that “no educational system may rise above the quality of its teachers” this statement informs that teacher education shall continue to be given major emphasis in all educational planning and development.

According to Walter (2015)teacher are paid agents of cultural diffusion hired to carry out and bring light in dark places in education while Hargreavelles (2015)in his contribution refers to the teacher as the communicators who in the center of our cultural. It is a well-known fact that in Africa in Nigeria in particular teachers had the hard task of penetrating the village to teach in school established by the missionaries. Ekanem (2016) defined teaching as an act that has to do with an exhibition of certain characteristics of a person who is involved in it the teacher occupies a central position upon which all other activities within the school revolve, therefore, there are certain qualities expected of him to possess to be for effective.

Alaezi (2010) asserts that one mark of a professional teacher is the knowledge and application of methods of change, human behaviour. He further stressed that one of the characteristics of a professional teacher is professional competence this implies the knowledge of the subject matter, skill, teaching among others. Nkang (2002) opines that a teacher is a pace setter for direction, his personality should be amiable to influence the climate of the class which will in turn affect the students general behaviour and the quality learning that take place on a daily basis.

According to Adeisojiand Olatundun (2008) illustrate that pupils attitude was related to teachers personality, Adu and Olatunbosun (2007) contend that teachers characteristics are strong determinant of pupils performance in school they said that the teacher has a lot of influence on their classroom practices, teacher should have and apply specific abilities without which their influence may not be reflected to their performance in the subject. It is against this background that the study sought to find out what teachers’ variables and academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Abysmal academic performance of pupils in school has been linked to poor teachers’ performance in terms of accomplishing the teaching task, negative attitude to work and poor teaching habit which have been attributed to poor motivation. It has also been observed that conditions that would make for effective teaching such as resource availability condition of service.

General condition of infrastructure as well as instructional materials in public schools are poor. These prevailing conditions would definitely show a negative influence on the instructional quality in secondary schools which may translate to poor academic performance attitude and values of secondary school teachers. The central problem for this study is to identify some teachers’ variables that may mar or promote students’ academic performance in in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.

Influence of Teachers Variables and Academic Performance of Students in Biology Secondary Schools

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of teachers’ variables and academic performance of students in Biology secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area. Specifically, the study intends to:

1. Determine the influence of teachers’ teaching experience on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.
2. Examine the influence of teachers’ qualification on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.
3. Examine influence of teachers’ communication skill on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to the following people, teachers, students and the government in the following ways:

1. It will help in sensitizing teachers on the influence of teachers’ variables in teaching/learning of Biology in secondary schools.
2. The findings of the study will enable ministries to restrategize towards enhancing meaningful teaching/learning by organizing seminar etc on teachers’ variables and learning of Biology.
3. It will create awareness among teachers to realize that their input make or mar students’ performance in schools.
4. It will also encourage teachers to adopt student-centered approach in teaching/learning of Biology in secondary school.
5. The study will serve as data for future researchers in the field of Biology or related discipline.

1.5       Research Questions

In order to guide the study, the following research questions will be formulated

1. To what extent does teachers’ teaching experience influence academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area?
2. To what extent does teachers’ qualification influence academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area?
3. To what extent does teachers’ gender influence academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area?

1.6       Research Hypotheses

                        The following hypotheses will be postulated to guide the study:

1. There is no significant influence of teachers’ teaching experience on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.
2. There is no significant influence of teachers’ qualification on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.
3. There is no significant influence of teachers’ gender on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.

1.7       Delimitation of the Study

This study focuses on the effect of teachers’ variables and academic performance of students in Biology secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area. The study considered only public secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area.

Influence of Teachers Variables and Academic Performance of Students in Biology Secondary Schools

1.8       Limitation of the Study        

            The study was limited by:

The researcher encountered some limitation to the scope of the study

Availability of research materials: The research material available to the researcher was insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

Time: the time frame allocated for the study could not enhance wider courage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

Finance: the finance available for the research work could not allow wider coverage as resources were very limited as other academic bills to cover.

Some of the respondents posed a challenged to disclose relevant information for the fear of unknown

1.9       Operational Definition of Terms

Teacher: this is a person involves to bringing out desirable change in human learning ability and behaviours.

Teaching: this is seen as scientific process that involves the systematic planning and programming of instruction and experience and the use of technological tools that will lead learners to acquire certain new and variable skills, knowledge and competence both mental and physical.

Teachers’ variable: this is referred to as qualities that can be measured with test or derived from their academic or professional records.

Teachers Qualification: This involves the level of education in which a teacher earned credentials from an authoritative source from the lower to the higher level.

Teaching Experience:is the period of time in which the teacher has got experience in the teaching profession.