Students Characteristics and the Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools

STUDENT’S CHARACTERISTICS AND THE LEARNING OF CHEMISTRY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ONNA  LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

This study sought to find out student’s characteristics and the learning of chemistry in secondary schools in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Three hypotheses were formulated for the study. The design of the study was survey design. The population of the study was all teachers in the five (5) secondary schools and one hundred (100) selected chemistry teachers formed the sample size of the study. The instrument used in gathering data was questionnaire designed after two Linket model of Yes/No, 15 items structured questions were developed and administered on 100 respondents.

The data collected were analyzed using simply percentage and statistical method. Based on the analysis, the findings showed that there is a significant difference between the performance of students in chemistry and their characteristics and it effect on the learning of chemistry and there is significant relationship in the learning of chemistry and students characteristics. Recommendations were made that government should endeavour to increase teachers’ salaries so that the teaching of chemistry can be effectively enhanced.

 

Students Characteristics and the Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Education by and large is viewed as the string broad to accelerated social mobility as well as the socio-economic growth and development of the society (Nkang, 2012). Indeed, Nsofor (2012) opines that every nation in the world regardless of its state of development use education to pursue their development objectives by way of moulding the citizenry in skills, attitudes and vision. As a result, no meaningful national development can take place without education.

Therefore, every nation accords education some priority attention since education can generate in the citizenry attitudes that are favourable to modernization, industrial, growth, democratic ideas and the rise of the patriotic feelings. Perhaps, this contention informed the Nigerian state in her national policy on education to adopt education as an instrument per excellence for effective National Development. (Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004).

Unfortunately over the last couple of years there had been this hue and cry over the poor academic performance of students at all levels in Nigeria Schools (Ekanem, 2018) some scholars have stated some reasons for this which include learners’ commitments and dedication to education, the non-Challant attitudes of parents, government poor funding of schools, lack of dedication on the part of teachers (Robbert 2015).

 

1.2   Statement of the Problem

Education is supposed to equip the individual with the knowledge; skill, aptitudes, value and attitudes to enable him or her live a life of functionality and self-reliance on our modern complex society.

Over the years, the poor academic performance of students in public examinations have been seen to be caused by inadequate physical facilities, earners attitudes to education poor management and administration and poor funding of schools, etc. These reasons can also be attributed for the poor earning of chemistry in our educational institutions.

Students Characteristics and the Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools

 1.3   Objective of the Study

The study was conducted to find out students’ characteristics and the learning of chemistry in secondary schools in Onna Local Government Area, specifically, the study sought to:   

(1)    Find out the characteristics which can be favourable to the students’ and teacher’s active participation in the learning of chemistry.

(2)    Find out characteristics which influence the students towards the learning of chemistry.

(3)    Find out the possible causes that brought about poor characteristics between students and teachers and finding possible measures that will be used to eradicate these.

1.4   Significant of the Study

The finding of this study will help in the following ways:

(i)     It will assist teachers in Onna Local Government to re-adjust their teaching strategies.

(ii)    The findings will be useful to the school administrators, parents and guardians.

(iii)    The counselor will find it useful helping his client when problem arises in chemistry.

(iv)   It will be useful to the curriculum planners and developers in the areas of secondary education syllabus in chemistry.

1.5   Research Hypotheses

(i)     There is no significant difference between performance of student in chemistry and their characteristics.

(ii)    There is no significant difference between student’s characteristics and its effect on the learning of chemistry.

(iii)    There is no significant relationship in the learning of chemistry and student characteristics.

1.6   Research Questions

In the course of the research, the following questions were posed to guide the researcher:

(i)     Do students differ in their performance in chemistry where characteristics are favourable?

(ii)    Is there any difference between students characteristics and its effect on the learning of chemistry?

(iii)    How does teachers’ characteristic influences students’ willingness to learn chemistry?

 

Students Characteristics and the Learning of Chemistry in Secondary Schools

1.7   Limitation of the Study

In writing a research of this nature, limitations are bound to occur. They include among others: The time given for the completion of the study which was inadequate make a research like this to have a wilder scope, hence the study was limited to secondary schools in Onna Local Government Area.

The researcher was confronted with lack of enough financial resources to help expand the dimension of the study, some of the students and teachers were reluctant in disclosing the right opinion to the items of the questionnaire.

1.8   Delimitation of the Study

The scope of the study will be reluctant delimited to five selected secondary schools in Onna Local Government Area. Also students’ characteristics and learning of Chemistry measured and delimited

Likewise, students’ performance in chemistry would be measured and delimited to such variable on the academic performance, school attainment regularity of attendance pattern of interaction/association in school, possession of basic learning materials in chemistry and general academic performance among others.

1.8   Definition of Term

1. Chemistry: According to advance learners dictionary chemistry is defined as the scientific study of the structure of substance, how they react when combined or in contact with one another, and how they behave under different conditions.  
2. Learning: Is the process of studying something that is knowledge that you get from reading and studying.
3. Characteristics: A typical feature or quality that something or somebody has.
4. Student: A Person who is studying in the universities, colleges and secondary school.
5. Academic Performance: Refers to student’s ability or achievement of what he/she has learned to do as a result of prior exposure to a course of instruction.