COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study
- Statement of the problem
- Purpose of the Study
- Research Hypotheses
- Significance of the Study
- Delimitation of the Study
- Limitation of the study
- Operational Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Research design
3.2 The Study Area
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 Sample and Sampling Technique
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Method for Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
OF FINDINGS
4.1 Presentation of the Results
4.1.1 Research Hypothesis One
4.1.2 Research Hypothesis One
4.1.3 Research Hypothesis Three
4.2 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Recommendations
5.3 Conclusion
References
Appendixes
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Since the introduction of science in the Nigerian Schools’ curricula as far back as the time of the coming of Christian missionaries, the teaching and learning of Biology and Mathematics have remained a problem at all levels of our educational system due to their complex nature.
Moreover, according to Asikhai (2022), education at secondary school level is supposed to be the bedrock and the foundation towards higher knowledge in tertiary institutions. It is rather unfortunate that secondary schools today are not measuring up to the standard expected of them.
According to Nwokocha and Amadike (2021) Academic performance of students is the yardstick for testing the educational quality of a nation. Hence, it is expedient to maintain a high level of performance in internal and external examinations. For some years now, reports on the pages of newspapers and research findings have shown the abysmal achievement of students in science subjects in public examinations (WAEC, 2017 and the punch newspaper (September 27, 2018). The decline in students’ achievement in public examination is frustrating to the students and the parents, its effects are equally grievous on the society.
One of the most potent barometers so far, if not the strongest, of measuring school performance of students is through public examinations such as senior school certificate examinations (S.S,C.E) in Nigeria. Indeed, these examinations are externally moderated and enjoy a lot of public confidence. The form of education children receive after primary and before tertiary stage is called secondary education. Without secondary products, it is obvious that the basis for any future academic study cannot be laid.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
In fact, no educational system is problem free. However, the decay in Nigerian educational system is becoming embarrassing. Though, brilliant students can be found even in the public schools, the high percentages of failure in public examinations tend to rubbish the good ones among them.
Initially, mathematics and English language were recording poor results only, but later it extended to virtually all subject areas including Biology. Undeniably, results in the core-subject were very poor with students doing much worse in subjects with practical work. The comparative analysis of the academic achievement of students in Biology and Mathematics in secondary schools.
However, the subjects of concern to the researcher are Biology and mathematics. Obviously, Biology is one of the science subjects studied at the senior secondary school. It is defined as the study of life or the study of plants and animals (Michael, 2018). Among the science subjects, Biology is considered the most popular among secondary school students considering the subject.
Mathematics on the other hand is one of the core and compulsory subjects in schools. Thus, it is regarded as a science of numbers. In fact, it is only school subject students find most difficult to study or understand. Despite the relative popularity of mathematics in the school system, it is very disappointing to note that students’ achievement in the subject in both internal and external school examinations have remained consistently poor over the years (WAEC, annual report, 1998 – 2019).
In addition, many have attributed the incidence of students’ failure in Biology and mathematics to the ineffective methods of teaching the subjects by the teachers which has culminated in low rate of memorization of mathematical and Biological concepts and principles among students without having deep understanding of scientific phenomena, concept and theories. Some scholars also opined that students achieve significantly lower in mathematics than any other school subject. Therefore, this calls for a comparative analysis of the academic achievement of students in Biology and Mathematics in secondary schools.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It is an incontestable fact that the level of academic achievement of students in public examination has been abysmally low especially in the core subject areas including Biology and Mathematics. However, the continuous decline in students’ academic achievement has become a source of worry to successive governments and major stakeholders in the education sector in the country. The comparative analysis of the academic achievement of students in Biology and Mathematics in secondary schools.
Over the years, the majority of students that sat for the May/June West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination have been recording mass failure not only in the area of overall performance of the students. Also, in the core subject like English, Mathematics, Biology etc. where the high rate of failure has been a dominant feature. Statistics released by the two examination bodies (WAEC/NECO) pointed to the fact that students have not been performing up to the required standard despite the huge investment in the sector by the government at all level.
Consequently, the out-cry on the persistent poor performance of students in senior certificate Examination (S.S.C.E) both in WAEC and NECO has been a subject of concerns to stakeholders in the educational sector. Therefore, it is against this background this study “Comparative analysis of the academic achievement of students in Biology and Mathematics in secondary schools.” becomes imperative.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
This study focused on the comparative analysis of the academic achievement of students in Biology and Mathematics in secondary schools. Specifically, the objectives include to:
(i) Compare the performance of students in Biology and mathematics in the 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
(ii) Compare the performance of students in Biology and Mathematics in the 2016 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
(iii) Compare the performance of students in Biology and Mathematics in the 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
1.4 Research Hypothesis
(i) There is no significant difference in the performance of students in Biology and Mathematics in West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2015.
(ii) There is no significant difference in the performance of students in Biology and Mathematics in West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2006.
(iii) There is no significant difference in the performance of students in Biology and Mathematics in West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2017.
1.5 Significance of the Study
It is anticipated that the findings of this study will be of enormous benefits to all and sundry in the educational sector. Teachers, school administrators, educational planners and policy makers, examination bodies, researchers and students will benefit immensely from the findings of this study in the following ways:
(i) Firstly, it would reveal the difference in the level of performance of students in Biology and Mathematics in public examination.
(ii) Secondly, it would bring into light the reasons for downward trend in students’ academic performance in biology and mathematics overtime.
(iii) Also, it would add to the body of existing literature on the performance of students in Biology and mathematics in public examinations. The comparative analysis of the academic achievement of students in Biology and Mathematics in secondary schools.
(iv) Finally, the study would serve as a reference material for further studies on the level of academic performance of students in Biology and mathematics in public examination.
Operational Definition of Terms
- Comparative Analysis: To examine something in order to ascertain how similarities or differences they are.
- Academic Performance: In brief, the ability of students in test or examination given on topic taught to them in school.
- Biology: In brief, the study of plants and animals
- Mathematics: The science of numbers and measurement.
- WASSCE: An acronym for West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
- NECO: National Examination Council.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, it could be concluded that no significance difference exist in the performance of students in Biology and Mathematics.
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