EFFECT OF CLASS SIZE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS
EFFECT OF CLASS SIZE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Abstract
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTIONÂ Â
1.1Â Â Â Background to the Study
1.2Â Â Â Statement of the Problem
1.3Â Â Â Purpose of the Study
1.4Â Â Â Significance of the Study
1.5Â Â Â Research Questions
1.6Â Â Â Delimitation of the Study
1.7Â Â Â Limitation of the Study
1.8 Â Â Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE: Â Â Â Â Â RESEARCH METHODS
3.1 Â Â Area of the Study
3.2 Â Â Research Design
3.3 Â Â Population of the Study
3.4 Â Â Sample and Sampling Technique
3.5 Â Â Instrument for Data Collection
3.6 Â Â Validation of the Instrument
3.7 Â Â Reliability of Instrument
3.8 Â Â Administration of the Instrument
3.9Â Â Â Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1Â Â Â Data Analysis
4.2 Â Â Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Â Â Summary
5.2 Â Â Recommendations
5.3 Â Â Conclusion
5.4Â Â Â Suggestions for further Study
References
Appendix
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â Â Â Â Background to the Study
The rapid increase in all facet of Nigerian economy, social, political and educational system is so alarming. There should also be a corresponding increase in the turnout of manpower. Moreover, the Nigeria educational system should be alert in the training of qualified manpower to meet with the increase. Consequently, the total number of students in any given class has a great effect on academic performance of students in any examination (Blosser, 2021).
According to DeBaz (2018).The classroom still remains the main learning environment in the schools although learning can take place in other venues. Thus, on this premise, it is imperative that educators strive to make the classroom the best venue for students to attain their full potential in academic performance (Fullon, 2005). A classroom is not just a four wall enclosure with a seating arrangement and a chalkboard but an arrangement where teachers and students come together for the purpose of teaching and learning (Ekpo, 2012).
EFFECT OF CLASS SIZE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS
Furthermore, the classroom provides an effective platform for the acquisition of knowledge and the shaping of attitude towards learning. Undeniably, in most states in Nigeria, enrolment into public schools exceeds the provisions made by the government to accommodate them in terms of adequate furnished classrooms with chairs, tables and classroom spaces etc. this development results in most parents scrambling for few available places in private schools.
Research studies of private and public schools in Nigeria show that students’ achievement in private schools is better than that of public schools (Chike-Okoli and Sarki, 2010). Accordingly, understanding if there is a relationship between the number of students in a class and the academic achievement is of paramount importance.
Stakeholders at all levels of education need empirical data to ascertain the effect of class size on students’ academic achievement in schools with a view to deciding whether reducing students-to-teacher ratio will bring about the much desired improvement in students’ academic performance in schools. Therefore, this study on the effect of class size on academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students in Ilesa East local Government Area is a step in the right direction.
1.2Â Â Â Â Statement of the Problem
Without reservation, it is an indisputable fact that secondary schools in Nigeria have been witnessing constant increase in students’ population. Undeniably, the global population increase does not spare education. Indeed, the awareness of the benefits of formal education is an explanation to the astronomical increase in school population in Nigeria. Thus, this development has led to congested classrooms in schools resulting in a situation where one teacher is assigned to very large number of students in a class.
In fact, the increase in teacher – students’ ratio has a great bearing on the students’ academic performance. However, most scholars believe that government and other stakeholders have not done enough to address the infrastructural defect in schools which has left most schools with dilapidate buildings with few classroom blacks. The effect of class size on academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students.
Accordingly, increase in enrolment trend in schools sequel to the free and compulsory education policy of government has culminated in more pupils/students struggling for few available classroom spaces in our schools, resulting in congested classrooms which does not augur well for effective teaching and learning.
In addition, there is no doubt that this development has impact negatively on students’ academic performance in schools. It is against this background therefore, that this study “effect of class size on academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students in Ilesa East local Government Area becomes imperative.
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1.3Â Â Â Â Purpose of the study
The main purpose of this study is to examine effect of class size on academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students in Ilesa East local Government Area. Specifically, objectives include;
- to examine the academic performance of Biology students taught in a small class and those taught in a large class in secondary schools in Ilesa East Local Government Area.
- to examine the academic performance of Biology students taught in a small class and those taught in a medium class in secondary schools in Ilesa East Local Government Area.
- to examine the academic performance of male and female Biology students taught in a small class size in secondary schools in Ilesa East Local Government Area.
Definition of Terms
The following terms used in the study were conceptualized by the researcher as explained below:
Class: A group of learners taught together
Class size: In brief, the number of learners taught together in a class
Small class: A class that has between two (2) to twenty-five (25) students
Medium class: A class that has between 26 to 35 students
Large class: A class that has more than 35 students.
Biology: The study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origin, and distribution.
Academic Performance: In brief, the measure of the extent which learners in school acquired set objectives of lessons as indicated by their tests and examination scores.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is an incontrovertible fact that class size has a significant influence on the quality of the teaching-learning process vis’-a-vis students’ academic performance in Biology. This is so because a teacher who teaches large number of students in a class may not be able to pay attention to individual learners in the class by way of monitoring their academic progress and ensuring improvement in their performance. The effect of class size on academic performance of senior secondary school Biology students.
However, base on the findings of the study, it could be concluded that class size significantly affect students’ academic performance in Biology.
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