CAUSES OF STUDENTS POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN JSS CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION: A CASE STUDY OF OKA SECONDARY SCHOOL, BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to find out some of the causes of student poor academic performance in Junior Secondary School in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area. In carrying out the study a questionnaire was designed and administered to principals, vice principals, and teachers of the selected schools. The result shown that lack of laboratory/museum, syllabus, field trip/excursion, lack of teaching aids, teaching method, unqualified teachers can discourage the interest of the students. To each of these problem a solution had been suggested, if these suggestions are applied by the government and the teacher,the problems of poor academic performance will be reduced drastically in the country and in the selected schools in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO STUDY

To start with, it is proper to disabuse your mind from the earlier opinion that social studies is the study of history, geography, religious studies, government civics, economic history, anthropology or sociology. It is not an amalgamation of the subjects listed above under the big umbrella of social studies. Hence, Adeyemo (2000) defined it as the totality of experience students goes through having been exposed to such a course based on man’s interminable problem in chosen environment with a full knowledge of unable factors whether historical, geographical, traditional political, social, religious, economic, psychological, cultural, scientific or technological that are normally responsible in man’s wed of interaction with his environment.

As Uche (1980) puts it, social studies provides understand their physical and human environment in order to act as responsible citizen. It has become imperative to find out the trend of performances of students in social studies in the junior secondary school certificate examination in Oka Secondary School, Benin City. As the society becomes more complex and advanced in technology man restricted social studies. This a lot of innovations emanated in different perspectives some of such innovation includes, change in shelter, transportation, use of products, culture, social institutions, socialization and change in education. In other to cope with the change/innovation in social studies, the subject was introduced to junior secondary school curriculum. Hence, junior secondary schools are the level where rudiments of social studies are taught. Ulabar (1984) observed that students performance in social studies in Ikpoba- Okha local government area has been affected by lack of qualify social studies teachers, lack of laboratory.

Teaching aids, poor teaching method, poor motivation, wrong choice of course, financial problem, family problem, inadequate equipment, psychological problem, lack of provision of guidance and counselor and poor health. Despite all the effects devoted to the problem of poor academic performance, there has been little success. This study is therefore aimed at looking into these problems and other with a view to provide solution to them. It is the hope of the research that recommendation that would be made based on the findings would help to ameliorate the situation. Similarly, it is believed that the recommendation would be of immense benefit to educational planner’s policy makers, teachers and students.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

This process of teaching and learning bring the individual in contact with educational process. In 2010, the performance of student in social studies has left much to be desire. Efforts so far made at improving this seemingly bad situation will not see to be proving the desire result. It would appear from past efforts that the problems have not been either correctly diagnosed, or solution provided have been adequate enough to ameliorate the situation. In the light of the above it is obvious that the teachers and students themselves, who in the studied separately, would provide the needed solution. The problem that arises from this situation is a decline in the numbers of students enrolling in social studies at the secondary school level. This definitely has a negative overall effect on the economy. How that the country needs to be self sufficient the youth must be encouraged to study social studies.