CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
Over the years, the performances of students in the
Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) have been a source of worry to
both parents and teachers. Various attempts have been made to identify the
causes of such poor performances. In Nigeria, there are evidences of poor
performance in (SSCE); Nwagu (2004) states that, May/June 2000 (SSCE) results
of community secondary school Oshiri, shows that 230 candidates registered for
the examination, while only 20 candidates of the total number made good results
in mathematics and Literature in English.
Ogbuebo (2006) Stated that Community
Secondary School Oshiri in May/June 2005, (SSCE) result were very poor,
according to him, 152 candidate were registered and 34 could makes meaningful
result out of the total number of the registered candidates. Oni (2000) also
explained that the performance of senior secondary school student in Oshiri
have been very poor. This tends calls for caution especially when one realizes
the huge contribution of Education to achieving the nation objectives.
The need for education, mostly in
under-developed countries cannot be over stressed, hence all countries,
committee believes that gradual quantitative and expansion of education opportunities
holds the basic key to national development. In developing nation at large and
Nigeria in particular, highly skilled works/professionals are wanted in the
education sectors. Moreover, majority of persons, (both poor and rich) have
expected and are still expecting tremendous political pressure, on their
government for the expansion of school place. Many less-privilege parents
believe that, education is an escape roots, from poverty. This idea is further
strengthened by the inordinate ambition of people to acquire the required
certificate, so as to have access to well paid jobs in the environment where
the singular most important determinant of job places in certificate.
It is known that education is
regarded as major instrument for economics, and social development because
education is a cost benefit; for this reason a high level and effective
educational machinery must be involved in our schools, to get much needed
economics, social and political development. In our country Nigeria, many
administrations have steadily saved the educational industry from collapse.
Every government has warned concerning the much talked about failing
educational standard because of inadequate educational facilities. Nigerian
government places a higher premium on education; this is why the issue of student’s
poor performance in senior secondary certificate examination (SSCE) should be
addressed squarely.
Examination is one method of
evaluation and assessing instructional and educational performance, according to Fafunula (1974), the performance of students in (SSCE) were very
low, because of inadequate and poor facilities of school, when the government
was unable to provide the needed instructional materials to schools, definitely,
the students must perform woefully in their studies. The development of any
nation depends on her degree of educational attainment.
Luther (1985), went ahead supporting
it by saying that, the prosperity of a country depend not only on the beauty of
her public building but consists in the number of the cultivated citizens, its
men of education enlightenment and good character.
Furthermore, Obasanjo (1976)
observed that “Education” if well planned and executed could eliminate rancor
and tribalism. If education is solution for societal problem, and taproot of
all facet of her meaningful development, the social ills of rancor and
tribalism could be eliminated through well planned and executed educational
system such as the navel of 6-3-3-4 system of education.
In the light of these observation,
which are acceptable poor performance in (SSCE) would not be in harmony with
education, and national goals, we shall not be giving glory to the educational
industry, and the nation of large if we pay deaf ears to the issues, upon this
background, poor performance of students in the Senior Secondary Certificate
Examination (SSCE) in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
The issue of poor performance in
Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) has in recent times, been on
the increase in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. This ugly
situation hindered the normal human activities of the area. Considering that
the purpose of secondary education is to develop the individual to help
exercise his intellectual.
Thus an individual who is not
academically sound becomes a misfit in the society, to which he belongs, any
laps in the educational systems of the economy.
Over the years, students in most
secondary schools have been performing poorly in their final (SSCE). The poor
performance seems to discourage many students to further their education. It
must be noted that, (SSCE) is an essential certificate in educational
qualification of every country.
Thus, the purpose of this study
investigates the causes of poor performance of students in Senior Certificate
Examination (SSCE), in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to
examine the root causes of poor performance of student in (SSCE). Specifically
the study sought to:
1.
Find out whether
students involvement in examination malpractices contributed to poor
performance of students (SSCE).
2.
As- certain
whether shortage of qualified teachers contributed to poor performance of
student in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
3.
Determine whether
inadequate laboratory equipments and infrastructure affects students
performance in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
4.
Ascertain whether
lack of fund contributed to poor performance of students in Senior Secondary
Certificate Examination (SSCE).
5.
Determine whether
instructional methods contributed to poor performance of students in Senior
Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and indiscipline.
1.4 Significance
of the Study
The following stakeholders will
benefit from the finding of this study; Government policy makers, schools,
society, teachers, parents, students and researchers.
The result of this study will help
the reader to understand the various causes that contributed to poor
performance of students in senior secondary certificate examination (SSCE) and
this will help them to proffer solution to this problems.
This study will help the Government
to provide the necessary instructional materials and infrastructure that will
promote effective teaching and learning activities and in providing the
academic performance of students in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination
(SSCE).
This study will make parents to take
the training of their children seriously and encourage their wards by providing
the needed materials for effective learning.
This study will also help the policy
makers to make decision on the enrolment of candidates into the Senior
Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
This study will also prove very
useful to educational planners to achieve the objectives of education.
The study will also make the society
to benefit, because the children (students) who are the future of tomorrow,
well-trained and prepared to take up from our present teachers.
The study will also benefit the
teachers in the day to day practical management of the classroom, for the
effective performance of the students in the school. The result, which the
researcher intends to get will immensely help the teachers to sit up in their
academic works. The teacher will
invariable adopt new system to using varied method while delivery their lesson
and this equally aids understanding of teacher lesson.
This study will also help the
students to plan their time and improve their study habits.
The study in the long run enable the
government, policy maker, school, society, teacher, parents and students to come
together and form testing solution, to the poor performance of students in
(SSCE), because they are educational stakeholder.
The study will therefore assist all
these stakeholders in reducing and solving the rate of poor performance of
students in (SSCE).
To other researchers, this study may
ginger their interests, in investigating further into the causes of poor
performance of students in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), and
make contribution to reduce or eliminate totally the poor performance of
students in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), in Onicha Local
Government Area and Nigeria in general.
1.5 Scope
of the Study
The study aims at investigating, the
causes of poor performance of students in Senior Secondary Certificate
Examination (SSCE), in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The study focused on the following
examination malpractices, shortage of qualified teachers, inadequate laboratory
equipment/ infrastructure, instructional method and lack of fund contributed to
poor performance of students in Senior Secondary Certificate Examination
(SSCE).
1.6 Research
Questions
(1) How
does a student involvement malpractice contribute to poor performance of
students in SSCE?
(2) How
does shortage of qualified teachers affect performance of students in SSCE?
(3) How
does government inability to provide basic laboratory equipment affect the student’s
performance in SSCE?
(4) How
does poor economy contribute to poor performance of students in SSCE?
(5) How
does instrumented method contribute to poor performance of students in SSCE?
(6) How
does indiscipline among public schools contribute to poor performance of
students in SSCE?