Pupils Characteristics and Academic Achievement in Basic Science among Primary School Pupils

PUPILS CHARACTERISTICS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BASIC SCIENCE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study

Basic science is an integrated science base subject for basic education. It is the subject which offers the pupils basic foundational knowledge of science. Basic science is an approach to teaching of science in which concepts and principle are presented, so as to express the fundamental unity of scientific concepts without any bias to the compartmentalized science (Adodo and Gbords, 2012). It is a subject which embraces all science subjects, namely Biology, chemistry, physics, health science, mathematics, and introductory technology etc. Therefore, it is a subject that cuts across the school curriculum and needed in all branches of science, applied science and social science (Adewumi, 2011).

With the importance of science in the society, no pupil should be denied the proper grasp of basic science at the foundation level of the primary classes in the Nigeria 9-year basic science and technology programme (Gbore, 2012). Science plays an enormous role in everyone’s life. From discovering cures for diseases, to creating innovative technologies, to teaching on how to think critically, science has become an indispensable feature of modern society.

Scientific discoveries shape the way we view the world and influence our decisions (Leonard, 2010) .Science is a way of knowing and understanding through the exercise of reason, a construction of the mind based on acute observation to explain natural phenomena (Cherif, 2019).

However, despite the fact that science informs our thoughts and behaviours, many people (pupils) do not seem to place a high value on science. Studies report that the general public including school pupils does not have positive feeling toward science and scientists (Rogers and Ford, 2007). They further state these findings are unfortunate because such attitude may have negative on the pupils’ academic performance and the entire society.

According to Futuyma (2017) pupils characteristic has been emphasized as academic predictors by many researchers who indicated that pupils attitudes, attendance interest and study habits could influence pupils in Basic Science.

Ormerod and Duck Worth (2009) supported this view by their suggestion that the pupils’ attitude, study habit, interest attendance as well as age are likely to play significant part in any satisfactory explanation of variable levels of performance shown by pupils in their school science subjects. Adodo (2017) argued that one overriding factor influencing academic performance of learners is the learners characteristics.

 

1.2  Statement of the Problem

The poor academic performance of pupils in Basic science in school examinations keeps giving Nigerians great cause for concern. Perhaps this situation is attributed to several factors such teachers variable, students background and some affective factors as well as pupils’ characteristics.

Ahiakwo (2016) found that the performance of various level of learners has decelerated over the years with that of Nigerian children quite remarkable.

Therefore, it is based on this problem that the researcher sought to investigate pupils’ characteristics and academic achievement in Basic science among primary school pupils in Abak Local Government Area.

 

1.3 Purpose of the study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate pupils characteristics and academic achievement in Basic science among primary school pupils in Abak Local Government Area.

Specifically it is intended to:

• Investigate the pupils attitude which influence their academic achievement in Basic science
• Investigate whether pupils study habit influence their academic achievement in basic science.
• Investigate whether pupils attendance influence their academic achievement in Basic science.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions are formulated to guide the study:”

1. Is there any significant relationship between pupils’ attitude to life and their academic performance in Basic Science?
2. Is there any significant relationship between study habit and pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science?
3. Is there any significant relationship between pupils’ regularity in class and pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science?

1.5      Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses are postulated for the study:

1. There is no significant relationship between pupils’ attitude to life and their academic performance in Basic Science?
2. There is no significant relationship between study habit and pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science?
3. There is no significant relationship between pupils’ regularity in class and pupils’ academic performance in Basic Science?

 

1.6      Significance of the Study

This study will be of immense benefit to teachers, parents, government, school administrators and educational stakeholders in their effort to ameliorate the fallen education standard.

It will contribute generally to the advancement of knowledge and will also expose some of the pupil characteristics that impede their academic achievement and proffer the way forward in improving pupils’ academic achievement in basic science.

Research scholars research agencies, educational planners and curriculum developers will find this study as a very useful reference material to them.

1.7      Delimitation of the Study

The study is restricted to all public primary schools in Abak local Government Area.

1.8      Limitation of the Study

Apart from limited time allowed for the completion of this study which was not enough for the research to have a wider scope? Another major militating factor to his study is lack of finance for proper funding due to the economic meltdown of the country.

 

1.9      Definition of Operational Terms: 

Pupils’ characteristics: In this context, it refers to learners’ variables such as pupils’ attitude, study habits and pupils attendance which can influence pupils achievement either negatively or positively.

Academic achievement: This refers to the marks scored in the examination or performance of pupils in Basic science examination.

Basic science: This is one of the foundational sciences subject taught in primary schools.

Attitude: This means the feelings, beliefs and values held about basic science by the pupils. It could be positive or negative attitude toward the subject.

Study Habits: This simply means a well planned method or pattern of study, which has attained a form of consistency on the parts of the pupils towards understanding academic Basic science and passing examination.

Attendance: This refers to the actual school attendance of a pupil during the school day. It also entails whether the pupil is regular, present or absence from school.