CLASS SIZE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN NSIT IBOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background to the Study

As school population increases, class size also enlarges and the performances of students become an issue.

Phenomenon often maintained in the educational literature as an influence on students’ feelings and achievement. The relationship between class size and academic performance has been a perplexing are for educators. Studies by Stereson and Cohen (2003) found out that school population and class size affect student’s achievement.

Class size refers to an educational tool that can be used to describe the average number of students per class in school. Adeyemi (2008) saw it as a tool that can be used to measure the performance of the education system. In relation to size, Kedney (2009) reported that the natural utilization of space depends upon class size. This is in turn would depends upon the area of the classroom. He argued that there are approved norms of class size of 40 students per class. Nwadim (2006) argued that the higher the class size, the lower the cost of education. He contented however, that most classrooms are overcrowded spreading resources thinly and thereby affecting the quality of education.

As schools grow, they typically become more bureaucratic; resulting in more feminized human relations and increased curricular specialization. Over populated classroom have increased those possibilities for at risk student as well as others, to lose interest in school and do poorly on test. Smith (2011) identifies four specific problem regarding overcrowding classroom to include, students not getting undivided attention, low reading scores, frustration and stress felt by the teachers and the inability of students to concentrate or stay on task while in class. The problem identified can be that teachers are unable to give individual attentions to the students. Teachers’ aides are not always available and sometime students have to have share textbooks. It could take the entire class time for students to find seats, have a textbook to look at. This leaves no time for individual attention to explain assignments or answered question. Thus, with teachers unable to help individual students, those who need extra help in gaining or maintaining their reading skills get left behind. They are unable to keep up the reading or in class discussion because of many students in one class.

Crowded classroom conditions not only make it difficult for students to concentrate on their lessons, but inevitably limit the amount of time teaches can spend on innovative teaching methods such as cooperative learning and group work or indeed or teaching anything beyond the barest minimum of required materials.

1.2      Statement of the Problem

The current development of education reforms in Nigeria has specifically increased in students’ environment in secondary schools. This increase in students’ enrollment should be back up with corresponding increase infrastructure as well as teachers into large class size. The contentions issues in this direction is whether class size has the capacity to exert significant impact on students academic performance in Agricultural Science.

The issue of poor academic performance of students in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area has been much concern to all and sundry. The problem is so much that it has led to the decline of students depends largeler on school environment.

It therefore becomes imperative to examine the impact variables of class size on students academic performance in Agricultural Science in the Area.

1.3      Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study is to examine class size and academic performance of secondary school students in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.

The specific purpose of the study include the following:

(i)          To examine the difference in academic performance of secondary school student in Agricultural Science in Large class size and small class size

(ii)        To examine the difference in academic performance of secondary school students in Agricultural Science in medium class size and large class size

1.4      Significance of the Study

The findings of the study will help teachers to identify the reason for poor academic performance of students in larger classes and how they address the problems. It would provide comprehensive information for educational planners, educators and parents on how could assist to cope with large classes. It would also help the educational planners and schools head to see the need they should reduces the number of a student in a class. The content of the study will also serve as resource materials for other who want to carry out further research.

1.5      Research Questions

The following questions were set to guide the study:

(i)          Does academic performance of secondary school student in Agricultural Science differ in large class size and small class size?

(ii)        Does academic performance of secondary school students in Agricultural science differ in medium class size and large class size?

1.6      Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

(i)          There is no significant differences in academic performance of secondary school students in Agricultural science in medium class size and large class size.

(ii)        There is no significant difference in academic performance of secondary school student in Agricultural science in medium class size and large class size.

1.7      Limitation of the Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher face some reasonable obstacles which include financial stress which materials for the study

1.8      Delimitation of the Study

The study is specially assessing the impact of class size and academic performance of secondary school students in Agricultural science in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area. The study will concentrate only on the effect of large class size, medium class size and small class size, medium class and small class size on students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science.

1.9      Definition of Terms

Academic Performance: The level of knowledge of skill attained by students in a given subject usually designed for them during the process of assessment.

Influence: This is the power to affect somebody’s character, belief, or action through advice admonition.

Agricultural Science: The most importance and necessary fact, skill, ideas, knowledge about the structure and behaviour of the natural and physical world.

Class: A group of learners taught together.