INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ILORIN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

School Environment is defined as school having appropriate facilities, well-managed classroom, available school-based health supports and a clear, fair disciplinary policy.  Influence is the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force or produce effects on the actions, behaviors, opinion e.t.c., of another or others. Students’ academic performance represents performance outcomes that indicate the extent to which a person is accomplished specific goals that were the focus of activities in instructional environments, especially in school, college and university.

Data collected were from (10) secondary schools in Ilorin West Local Government. Two hundred (200) respondents (teachers) were engaged in the study. Percentage, t-test and ANOVA statistical methods were used for the analysis of data collected. The distribution of respondents based on the variables of Age, Gender, School type, Teaching experience and Education qualification. The results derived from the analysis revealed that School Environment influences academic performance of students as perceived by the teachers in Ilorin West Local Government among others.

In the hypothesis for influence of school environment on student’ academic performance on the basis of age, there was no significant difference.  In the hypothesis for influence of school environment on students’ academic performance on the basis of gender, there was no significant difference. In the hypothesis for influence of school environment on students’ academic performance on the basis of school type, there was no significant difference. In the hypothesis for influence of school environment on students’ academic performance on the basis of teaching experience, there was no significant difference.

Based on these findings, it was recommended that Kwara State Government should cater for motivational facilities such as school library, laboratory, sport materials etc. which can enhance teaching and learning process. It was recommended that academic staff should be motivated to create a good social, psychological and physical climate in the classroom. It was recommended that the school counselor should reflect upon various factors that helps students in achieving their academic goals. It was also recommended that school management should ensure  that school are well suited, buildings are adequately utilized and teaching aids are being provided to aid students’ understanding and bring about better academic performance. 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Generally in the whole world, particularly in Nigeria, education has been considered to be the corner – stone for development. It forms the basis for literacy, skill acquisition, technological advancement and ability to harness human and material resources towards the achievement of societal goal, (FRN, 2004).

Education is very important in any given society. It is a process by which abilities and capabilities of individual are developed. These abilities might be physical abilities, emotional abilities, social abilities and intellectual abilities. It is the actualizing of human potential so that the individual can become something more than what he was before. According to Ugwuanyi (2003) education is the process by which society establishes to assist the young to learn and understand the heritage of the past, participate productively in the society and contribute meaningfully for the development of the society. Emeka (2008) citing Kneller (2000) sees education as a process by which any society through schools, colleges, universities and other institutions deliberately transmit knowledge, values and skills from one person to another. As a result of deregulation in Nigerian education, the system of education has two main interest groups – public education and private education.

Public education is the pillar or backbone of society which opens the door of equal educational opportunity to all citizens. It is a public owned property which attracts public attention constantly. According to Ukeje in Akpa, Udoh and Faghamiye (2005): Public school is concerned with the acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competencies of both mental and physical nature as equipment for the individual to live in this society, and acquisition of a relevant and balanced knowledge of facts about local and world phenomena. (P. 12-13). Public schools can also be seen as those schools controlled neither by individuals nor by private interest or agencies but by those who represent the society as a whole. In other words public schools are those schools which are supported and controlled by the government of the state or nation.

Secondary school is the stage of education following primary school. It is generally the final stage of compulsory education. Webster (2009) sees secondary school as a school intermediate between elementary school and collage usually offering general technical, vocational or college- preparatory course, while Collins (2003) refers to it as a school for young people, usually between the ages of eleven and eighteen. As for the National policy on education (FRN, 2004) it is the form of education children receive after primary education and before the tertiary stage.

In this study, environment includes all the external condition and influences in the school that affect the academic achievement of the student such as laboratory equipment, library facilities, qualified teachers, furniture, school building, good administrative management, teacher pupil relationship and school location among others. Environment for the purpose of this work can be divided into two parts home environment and school environment.

Environment can be defined as a system within which living organisms interacts with the physical element while education environment is a learning place where the learner learn and interact with learning facilities in order to be socialized and face the challenges in the society. Agusiegbe (2004) sees environments as consisting of all elements existing around man and which exert some influence on him. These include physical, biological and social attributes. Environment can also be seen as aggregate of all the external condition and influence affecting the life and development of an organism.

The school environment, which include the classroom, libraries, technical workshops, laboratories, as well as teachers effectiveness and school management etc are variables that affect students’ academic performance (Ajayi, 2008). Hence, the school environment remains an important area that should be studied and well managed to enhance students’ academic performance.

However, the issue of poor academic performance of students in public secondary schools has been of major concern to the government, parents, teachers and even the students themselves. The quality of education is not only on the teacher as it reflected in the performance of their duties, but also in the effective coordination of the school environment (Ajao, 2008). Teachers and students are essential in teaching learning process. The extent to which students learn could depend on the location within the school compound, the structure of the classroom, availability of instructural facilities and accessories. It is believed that a well planned school will gear up expected outcomes of education that will facilitate good social, political and economic that are geared towards effective teaching and learning process and academic performance of students.

Classroom environment aspect of instructional space school facilities were significantly related to students’ academic performance in schools. The three researchers also quoted (Glassman, 2010), asserting that a comfortable and carrying environment among other treatments helped to contribute to students’ academic performance.