WHY DO STUDENTS HAVE POOR PERFORMANCE IN S.S.C.E (SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION)



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?        

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