Student’s Characteristics and the Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools
ABSTRACT
This study sought to find out students’ characteristics and the learning of chemistry in secondary schools in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Three hypotheses were formulated for the study. The design of the study was a survey design. The population of the study was all teachers in the five (5) secondary schools and one hundred (100) selected chemistry teachers formed the sample size of the study. The instrument used in gathering data was a questionnaire designed after two Linket models of Yes/No, 15 items of structured questions were developed and administered on 100 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and statistical methods. Based on the analysis, the findings showed that there is a significant difference between the performance of students in chemistry and their characteristics and it effect on the learning of chemistry and there is a significant relationship in the learning of chemistry and students characteristics. Recommendations were made that government should endeavour to increase teachers’ salaries so that the teaching of chemistry can be effectively enhanced.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Education by and large is viewed as the string broad to accelerated social mobility as well as the socio-economic growth and development of the society (Nkang, 2002). Indeed, Nsofor (2002) opines that every nation in the world regardless of its state of development use education to pursue their development objectives by way of moulding the citizenry in skills, attitudes and vision. As a result, no meaningful national development can take place without education.
Therefore, every nation accords education some priority attention since education can generate in the citizenry attitudes that are favourable to modernization, industrial, growth, democratic ideals, and the rise of patriotic feelings. Perhaps, this contention informed the Nigerian state in her national policy on education to adopt education as an instrument par excellence for effective National Development. (Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004).
Unfortunately over the last couple of years there had been this hue and cry over the poor academic performance of students at all levels in Nigeria Schools (Ekanem, 2008) some scholars have stated some reasons for this which include learners’ commitments and dedication to education, the non-Challant attitudes of parents, government poor funding of schools, lack of dedication on the part of teachers (Robbert 1995).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Education is supposed to equip the individual with the knowledge; skill, aptitudes, value,s and attitudes to enable him or she to live a life of functionality and self-reliance in our modern complex society. Over the years, the poor academic performance of students in public examinations have been seen to be caused by inadequate physical facilities, earners’ attitudes to education poor management and administration and poor funding of schools, etc. These reasons can also be attributed for the poor earning of chemistry in our educational institutions.
Student’s Characteristics and the Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools
1.3 Objective of the Study
The study was conducted to find out students’ characteristics and the learning of chemistry in secondary schools in Onna Local Government Area, specifically, the study sought to:
(1) Find out the characteristics which can be favourable to the students’ and teachers’ active participation in the learning of chemistry.
(2) Find out characteristics that influence the students towards the learning of chemistry.
(3) Find out the possible causes that brought about poor characteristics between students and teachers and find possible measures that will be used to eradicate these.
1.4 Significant of the Study
The finding of this study will help in the following ways:
(i) It will assist teachers in Onna Local Government to re-adjust their teaching strategies.
(ii) The findings will be useful to the school administrators, parents, and guardians.
(iii) The counselor will find it useful to help his client when a problem arises in chemistry.
(iv) It will be useful to the curriculum planners and developers in the areas of secondary education syllabus in chemistry.
1.5 Research Hypotheses
(i) There is no significant difference between the performance of the student in chemistry and their characteristics.
(ii) There is no significant difference between students’ characteristics and their effect on the learning of chemistry.
(iii) There is no significant relationship between the learning of chemistry and student characteristics.
1.6 Research Questions
In the course of the research, the following questions were posed to guide the researcher:
(i) Do students differ in their performance in chemistry where characteristics are favourable?
(ii) Is there any difference between students’ characteristics and their effect on the learning of chemistry?
(iii) How does teachers’ characteristic influences students’ willingness to learn chemistry?