HOME VARIABLES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

HOME VARIABLES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT:

The study examined home variables and academic performance of students in Physical and health education in Eket Local Government Area. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The instruments used for data collection were the Students’ Examination Scores and a questionnaire. The sampling size of 180 students was selected for the study using simple random sampling technique and independent t-test method of data analysis was used to analyze the data.

Findings signified that home variables affects student’s academic performance in Physical and health education. The sub-variables considered in the study includes; family size, parents income level and educational level of parents and the findings revealed that those variables all have an effect on students’ academic performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

It is an indisputable fact that the home is microscope of the society. This is however an indication that what happens in the larger society is a true reflection of our individual family life. Also, it is an incontestable fact that every secondary school student like all mortals comes from a family. Some come from extremely poor homes while others have well-to-do parents. Some come from a polygamous family.

Equally, some are fatherless or motherless while some have no parents. Whichever category a learner belongs. Thus, it has either positive or negative effects on his or her general upbringing in life and brings with him or her to formal schooling a way of functioning which carries the imprint of his or her home background (Brown, 2018).

According to Esseu (2017), disciplined and indiscipline behaviours among school children is a function of the home. He maintained that the preponderance of delinquents among school population were from polygamous homes. Parents initiate children into cultural heritage in their immediate society and teach them from birth what is morally acceptable to the society.

Unless these early lessons are of the right type. The child starts life at a great disadvantage, unless the foundation laid by the home is sound, the school has nothing to build upon and the child later becomes a problem (Owan, 2017).

HOME VARIABLES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

It is only when a home performs its functions efficiently that the school can help to strengthen the foundation of greatness and intellectual achievement laid for the child and the community to utilize his or her potentials to enrich the cultural heritages.

It is a common knowledge that children learn at home under the training of their parents as first teachers. Therefore, the functional role of parents in the academic upbringing of their wards must be appreciated. However, research has shown that majority of learners in schools come from extremely poor homes.

In such homes, books which are sources of knowledge for the development of human intellect can only be purchased at the expenses of meals for the family. Whereas informative and educative equipment such as radio, television and learning aids are lacking. Students who come from well-provided homes and where parents understand their roles as care givers tends to have an advantage over those from poor homes.

In the first place, they are likely to benefit from home environment which promotes learning as the parents provide adequate support for them to do homework.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

In recent years, there has been public outcry on the poor performance of students in both internal and external school examinations. The abysmal performance of students’ in school has become a recurring decimal in the nation’s educational system. The situation has generated concerns among teachers, parents, educational planners, policy makers, researchers and the government at large.

Accordingly, in view of the continuous decline in academic performance of students in both internal and external examinations. This development does not augur well for the realization of the objectives and goals of the teaching-learning process in schools and the nation’s educational system in general especially when one considers the huge financial investment in the sector by the government.

It is against this background therefore, that this study, “Home variables and academic performance of students in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area” was carried out.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine home variables and academic performance of students in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.

The specific objectives include:

1. To examine the influence of parental income level on the academic performance of students in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.
2. To determine how parental educational qualification influences the academic performance of students in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.
3. To assess the influence of family size on academic performance of students in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.

1.4     Significance of the Study

The teachers, schools, researchers and students will benefit from this research work in the following ways:

1. It would reveal the home variables that affect the academic performance of secondary school students in Physical and health education.
2. The findings of this study would add to the body of existing literature on home variables and student’s academic performance.
3. Finally, the study will serve as a reference material for further research on family or home variables.

1.5     Research Questions

1. How do students with high income parents differ in academic performance from their counterparts with low income parents?
2. To what extent do students with highly educated parents differ in their academic performance from those with poorly educated
3. What difference exists in the academic performance of students from large family size and those from small family size?

1.6     Research Hypotheses

1. There is no significant difference in academic performance of students from high income homes and those from low income homes in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.
2. There is no significant difference in academic performance of students whose parents are highly educated and those whose parents are poorly educated in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.
3. There is no significant difference in academic performance of students from a small family size and those from a large family size in Physical and health education in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.

1.7     Limitation of the Study

The major challenges that limited the scope of this study to secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area were: insufficient funds, the time frame for the completion of the research and the researcher’s academic work-load.

1.8    Delimitation of the Study

This study in its scope was conducted based on home variables and how they affect the academic performance of students. It was conducted in Eket Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. It focused strictly on senior secondary two (SS2) students of Physical and health education in the study area.

1.9     Operational Definition of Terms

• Family: A group of people who are closely related by blood, marriage or adoption.
• Students: These refer to children or learners in the secondary school learning environment.
• Home variable: This is used to describe the socio-economic status of the family or home from where the child attends school. This involves the income of the parents, their educational status as well as their occupation.

• Educational background: The educational status of a person.
• Family size: The total number of people living together as a family (Families with 1-4 children is a small family while 5 children and above is a large family).
• Academic performance: The performance of students on taught lessons as indicated by their test and examination scores.
• Parental income: This is the amount of money a parent earns either daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that high educational level of parents enables students in Physical and health education to excel academically than those who have lowly educated parents.

It can also be concluded that when the income level of parents are high, the students’ needs will be met therefore enhancing high academic achievements. It is also concluded that students from small family sizes stand a better chance to perform academically higher than from large family sizes.

Peter Hezekiah

I am Peter Hezekiah, a Nigerian. A graduate of Economics/Education. I’m the Editor in projectboss.com.ng (A online company that deals with writing of final year project and provision of project materials of any topic to final year project students). My personal email is lawsonpeter10@gmail.com. My personal number; +2347068634102