Environmental Variables and Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Science

Environmental Variables and Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Science

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of environmental variables and academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary school in Ukanafun Local Government Area .A survey research design was employed to carry out the study. The population of the study consisted of all the pupils in all primary schools in the study area. The total population was two thousand two hundred and seven (2207) pupils. two hundred (200) pupils formed the sample size for the study and a simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Three research questions and three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.

The instrument used in gathering the needed data for the study was the researcher’s made questionnaire called Environmental Variables and Academic Performance Questionnaire (EVAPQ) and Primary Science Achievement Test (PSAT)  . The data collected was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistical method. The result of the findings revealed that there is significant relationship between environmental variables and academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Based on the result of findings, it was recommended among others thatGovernment should ensure that both urban and rural schools are provided with equal facilities so as to enhance the effective learning of primary sciences in all primary schools in the area.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Environmental variables and academic performance of pupils in primary school before now has been a cause for great concern. Primary school is no doubt the foundation of education, prominently been regarded as a fundamental human right. Education is an essential component of human capital and it plays an important role in economic growth and development of any country. Primary education therefore remains an important social service that should be carefully managed

Udom (2007) noted that environment of the learners is one of the strong determinants in learning  according to him, factors such as qualified teacher, classroom buildings, sport facilities, laboratories, etc should be put in place to ensure effective learning and teaching for good academic performance and optimal level of achievement in a given subject area.

According to Inyang (2012) School is an environment which constitutes all that surrounds the learners in the course of learning. The environment of the school embraces such provisions as good internal road, spacious classroom, water and well equipped laboratories, workshops and libraries, etc. therefore, when the required facilities are not put in place in adequate quantities in the surrounding of the learners, they will have difficulty in understanding concepts because they are abstract to them.  For instance, when the facilities are not available or if the environment of the school is not well equipped, the pupils may be forced to understand primary science concept shallowly and that would lead to poor performance.

Environmental variables before now have been considered as one of the factors that affect effective teaching and learning in schools. Hence, it has attracted attention in educational discourse and consideration. Environment plays a major and vital role in the life of every individual be it a pupil or a teacher. Through some people are yet to believe that environment bring about better performance, Udo (2010), in his study of the environmental problem in Nigerian schools noted that most of our schools lack the necessary amenities teaching and learning such as libraries, workshops and laboratories etc. under these conditions the training of pupils by teachers according to Udo (2010) may be adversely affected, which in turn may reflect on the pupils performance in school. Therefore for the pupils to carry out their learning effectively and efficiently, it is necessary that learning must take place in a conducive environment.

 Studies have shown that both the physical environment and psychological potentials of an individual are contentious variables that may influence academic performance. Many pupils fail to develop their potentials clue to inadequate environmental stimulation Olaiton (2012), mentioned that lack of inadequate school buildings and the structure in the school environment affect directly the teaching and learning of primary science in primary schools.

Environmental Variables and Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Science

1.2 Statement of the Problem

There is a growing rate of complaints of poor academic performance in both internal and external examination Udo (2010). These complaints are being made by pupils, parent and the general public despite the effect made by the government and relevant stakeholders towards the achievement of educational objectives. For instance, studies show that government has shown tremendous concern in curricular reviews, recruitment of teachers, and retraining of teacher, etc while the academic performance of our children continue to dwindle.

It is on the basic of these massive complaints that one wonders whether environmental variables could play a role in the dwindling academic fortunes of our future leaders hence, the investigation of environmental variables and academic performance of pupils in primary science in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

1.3  Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study was to investigate environmental variables and the academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Specifically, the study intends to:

1.3 Purpose of the Study

Specifically the study intends to.

1. Investigate the difference between the academic performance of pupil in urban and rural schools in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area
2. Investigate the difference between the academic performance of pupils in primary school with laboratories and those without laboratories in primary science in Ukanafun Local Government Area
3. Investigate the difference between the academic performance of pupils in primary schools with laboratories and those without laboratories in primary science in Ukanafun Local Government Area

1.4  Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study;

1. What is the difference between the academic performance of pupils in urban and rural schools in primary science in Ukanafun Local Government Area
2. What is the difference between the academic performance of pupils in primary schools with laboratories in primary science in Ukanafun Local Government Area
3. What is the differences between the academic performance of pupils in primary schools with laboratories and without libraries in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area

1.5   Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study

1. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of pupils in urban and rural schools in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area
2. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of pupils in primary science in school with laboratories and pupils in school without laboratories in Ukanafun Local Government Area
3. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of pupils in primary science in school without libraries and pupils in schools without libraries in Ukanafun Local Government Area

1.6  Significance of the Study

The study may be of relevance to researchers who are interested in knowing how the various school environmental variables influence academic performance of pupils in primary school. It may help the teacher to be aware of these variables that influence academic performance of pupils in primary sciences and use their positive trait to improve the academic performance of their students. The findings may remind curriculum developers of those conditions necessary for good and effective teaching as well as educating pupils in primary science in making right choices of school in terms of infrastructural and instructional and facilities availability.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

One of the limitations of study was time. This is because the time given for the completion of the work could hardly be enough for a wider and more in-depth research into the problem situation. Besides, financial constraint also affected the study as the researcher could not have enough money to allow for a wider coverage of the study. Data for the study were obtained from the respondents who may not have been free of school biases

1.8  Delimitation of the Study

The scope of this study is delimited to school environmental variables of  school location, availability of library, and laboratory and academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Hence, a research finding on the issue is valid only to Ukanafun Local Government Area where the study was carried out and therefore cannot be generalized.

1.9  Operational Definition of Terms

For clarity sake, the following terms as associated with this project are defined thus:

Environmental variables: these are variables which include home, location of schools, school facilities, peers, and culture of the people, for this study, school environmental variables of library, laboratory and location were considered.

Library: this is a room or building in which collection of books, tapes, newspapers etc are kept orderly foe people to read, borrow or study.

Laboratory: a room or building or a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments and measurement may be performed.

School location: a community in which the school is sited such as a village, hamlet, rural area or urban area.

Environmental Variables and Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Science

CHAPTER FIVE

ÂSUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

This chapter focuses on the following sub-headings: Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations.

5.1 Summary

This research was carried out to examine the influence of environmental factors on academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. The specific objectives were to investigate the influence of school location, availability of school library, and school laboratory on academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. To achieve these objectives, there research questions and three hypotheses were postulated to guide the study. The study adopted survey research design.

The population of the study consisted of all the primary five pupils in all the primary schools in the study area. Eight (8) primary schools were randomly selected from sixty four (64) primary schools in the study area. the instrument used in gathering the needed information was Environmental factors Questionnaire (EFQ) and Primary Science Achievement Test (PPSAT). The sample size for the study was two hundred primary five pupils. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using person’s product correlation coefficient. The result of the analysis revealed that there is a significant influence of environmental factors on academic performance of pupils in primary science in primary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

5.2  CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that:

1. In terms of location, the study has proven that students in urban areas had better academic achievement than their rural counterpart. In other words, students in urban locations have a very great advantage by learning in an urban environment, which apparently enriches their academic knowledge, despite the apparent disadvantage, as it were, of having to learn in large classes.
2. Primary science laboratory facilities which enhance and improve student’s performances were not available in most of the primary schools.
3. Adequately furnished laboratories which improve pupils’ learning outcomes in sciences were observed to be inadequate in most of the primary schools.
4. Primary science laboratory facilities which were mostly unavailable and inadequate were not maximally utilized in most of the primary schools.

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings from the study, it was recommended that:

1. Government should ensure that both urban and rural schools are provided with equal facilities so as to enhance the effective learning of primary sciences.
2. It is evident that availability of laboratory facilities promotes learning of the sciences. Therefore state government and all other stakeholders of education should as a matter of priority make available these facilities in the schools.
3. Primary Schools in Ukanafun local government area should be encouraged to establish libraries as to improve pupils’ academic performance in schools.
4. Science teachers should also be motivated and encouraged to improvise where materials are not available in order to supplement the few available facilities in the school laboratories.