Factors Responsible For Mass Failure Of Student In Chemistry In Some Selected Secondary Schools

Factors Responsible For Mass Failure Of Student In Chemistry In Some Selected Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the factors responsible for mass failure of student in chemistry using five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano as a case study. The study was carried out to find out if:-insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects, unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Chemistry subject affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects, the previous socio-economic backgrounds of the students affect them in studying Chemistry subject and the attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Chemistry subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of chemistry teachers and students of five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 200 respondents and 150 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables. While the hypotheses were tested using Pearson Correlation statistical tool, SPSS v23.The result of the findings reveals that insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects. The study also revealed that the attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Chemistry subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE. Therefore, it is recommended that the problems of students poor performance would be reduced when teachers who are competent and qualified are employed and who also would adopt the use of instructional materials. To mention but a few.

Table of Content

Chapter One:

Introduction

• 1.1 Background of the Study
• 1.2 Statement of the Problem
• 1.3 Objective of the Study
• 1.4 Research Questions
• 1.5 Research Hypothesis
• 1.6 Significance of the Study
• 1.7 Scope of the Study
• 1.8 Limitation of the Study
• 1.9 Definition of Terms
• 1.10 Organizations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

• 2.1 Conceptual Framework
• 2.2 Theoretical Framework
• 2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

• 3.1 Research Design
• 3.2 Population of the Study
• 3.3 Sample Size Determination
• 3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
• 3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
• 3.6 Method of Data Collection
• 3.7 Method of Data Analysis
• 3.8 Validity of the Study
• 3.9 Reliability of the Study
• 3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

• 4.1 Data Presentation
• 4.2 Analysis of Data
• 4.3 Answering Research Questions
• 4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

• 5.1 Summary
• 5.2 Conclusion
• 5.3 Recommendation
• References
• APPENDIX
• QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

The performance of students in Senior Secondary Sciences in Nigeria has remained an issue of concern to all stake holders (Ajagun, 2000). The report by Ojerinde (1998) on the survey of the performance of candidates in Chemistry subjects in Nigeria over the years revealed a discernible decline. This perennial decline has remained a source of concern to Science educators and Chemistry educators (Nnaka and Anaekwe, 2004).

One of the major problems; facing the educational system in Nigeria is the abysmal failure of students in public examinations, particularly at the secondary level of education. According to Uduh (2009), the high percentage of candidates who failed WASSCE yearly is reflected in the low percentage of the candidates that meets the university admission requirements. The situation is so pathetic that stakeholders keep on wondering why this level of education has persistently failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the society. Apart from the fact that the mass failure of students in public examinations constitutes wastage on investment in secondary education, it puts a big question mark on the quality of secondary education in the country. Each time the results of students in Senior school Certificate Examination (SSCE) are released, it has been a tale of woes and national embarrassment.

Despite the effort put in by government, and various stakeholders of education, Chemistry still remained one of the most difficult subject in schools. There is a general impression that Chemistry is difficult by its very nature, and because of this impression, there is poor performance among junior secondary school students who are the focus of this study. This poor performance in Chemistry has been attributed to two broad factors which include: Hereditary and environmental factors which can be subdivided into students, home, teachers, and school factors (Ola, 1998).
However, students reason that Chemistry is highly structured and is so abstract and required special intellectual attitude. Thus; students see the subject as something esoteric. Emenalo (1986) in Nwogu (1990) articulated the fact that inherent notion held by many Africans that Chemistry is a very difficult subject which is capable of making one “mad” is at the centre of the phobia which students exhibits for Chemistry and which had claimed many causalities over the years, Nworgu (1990:123), therefore passes the question: “how them would any person in fairness expect our poor and innocent children to be as courageous as to face something which is capable of making even an adult mad? The students would prefer to do something else no matter how difficult rather than to attend Chemistry classes.

Most parents do not play a crucial role in preparing their children for school. The child is expected to see the world from the perspective of these archaic values and the goodness of otherwise of his behaviour is judged as such. Opposition from the child arises from what appears to him obsolete and defense of traditionalism by the parents. For example, Whaler (1997) argues that consistent and appropriate parental reactions to the full range of a child’s response repertoire will establish a family context conducive to positive reinforcement of child compliance. In contrast, inconsistent parental reactions appear to create a chaotic family context conducive to the negative reinforcement of child opposition. He argues that based on these two forms of contexts, the parent and children seen to generate distinctive personal rules which outline the functions arrangements of contexts, behavior.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Perhaps not much attention has been given to the performance of students in secondary school Chemistry subject in recent years. This neglect, no doubt has relegated this Chemistry subject to the background in Secondary School Certificate Examination. A close look at the 2013/2014 SSCE result records, confirms that students’ performance has been very poor generally and the increased number of school dropout in the area of study is a clear pointer of the theme.

According to Okpala (2010), poor performance in Secondary School Certificate Examination (WAEC) is caused by many factors such as; students ineffective study techniques, quality of teachers and method of teaching, the parents inability to provide useful materials like textbooks, exercise books and school fees and problem of inadequate instructional materials for teaching and learning of Chemistry in schools. This study therefore is designed to assess the factors associated with mass failure of Chemistry in Secondary School Certificate Examination.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to find out the factors associated with mass failure of student in Chemistry in Secondary Schools in KMC Local Government, Kano State. Specifically, the study sought to find out if:-

1. Insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects.
2. Unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Chemistry subject affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects,
3. The previous socio-economic backgrounds of the students affect them in studying Chemistry subject.
4. The attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Chemistry subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE.

1.4 Research Questions

In assessing the purpose of the study, this research project will answer the following questions:

1. Does insufficient numbers of qualified Chemistry teachers affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subject?
2. Does unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Chemistry subject affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects?
3. Does previous socio-economic background of the students affect them in studying Chemistry subject?
4. Does the interest of students towards the nature of Chemistry subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

In carrying out this research work the following theoretical statements are buttressed to serve as a direction on which the work will be premised:

Ho1: There is no significant relationship between insufficient numbers of qualified Chemistry teachers and students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects.

Ho2: There is no significant relationship between availability of instructional materials for teaching of Chemistry subject and students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The student will be able to appreciate the importance of the effective domain like interest and motivation in improving their performance. With this awareness, the student might put up a positive attitude towards Chemistry subject which will increase their performance and enhance higher grades in Secondary School Certificate Examination.

Teachers will also be able to adjust their teaching methods and offer remedial helps where they find out those students are putting up a low attitude. State Government will also see the need of guidance and counseling in each schools, the ministry of education and curriculum planners for better organization of junior subjects in education.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of the study focused on factors associated with mass failure of student in Chemistry in Secondary Schools in KMC, Local Government. The study will be confined to five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

Financial Constraint

Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time Constraint

The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Education:

Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training or through research.

Failure:

A person or thing that proves unsuccessful

Teacher:

A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for students.

Education:

Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills,, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training or through research.

Student:

A person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.

1.10 Organization of the Studies

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the factors responsible for mass failure of student in chemistry using five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano as a case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was on the factors responsible for mass failure of student in chemistry using five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano as a case study. The study is was specifically set to find out if:-insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects, unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Chemistry subject affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects, the previous socio-economic backgrounds of the students affect them in studying Chemistry subject and the attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Chemistry subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 150 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are chemistry teachers and students of five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following conclusion.

1. Insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects.
2. Unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Chemistry subject affects students’ mass failure in Chemistry subjects.
3. The previous socio-economic backgrounds of the students affect them in studying Chemistry subject.
4. The attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Chemistry subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

1. Teachers are implored to teach with adequate teaching aids and instructional materials, improve their methods of teaching among others.
2. The problems of students poor performance would be reduced when teachers who are competent and qualified are employed and who also would adopt the use of instructional materials.
3. School proprietors’ should as a matter of policy, purchase instructional aids which should be used by the teachers in their teaching of the student. If all these are done, they will go a long way in solving the problem of poor performance of students in chemistry.
4. Students should work to change their attitude towards chemistry teachers can help in encouraging the learner by giving relevant examples.
5. The ministry of education should seek for more funds from the government to raise the salaries of teachers to motivate them.

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