Influence of Teachers’ Characteristics on Students’ Academic Performance in Biology in Selected Secondary Schools in Ilorin Metropolis

ABSTRACT

Academic performance of students is the basis for achieving the general aims and objectives of education which is to provide integrated citizenry who will be useful to themselves and the society at large. In view of this, this study conducted an Influence of Teachers’ Characteristics on Students ‘Academic Performance in Biology in Selected Secondary Schools in Ilorin Metropolis. The descriptive research survey was adopted for the study. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select twenty (20) Secondary Schools in Ilorin Metropolis and was also used to draw a total sample of 100 respondents which varies from each other. In other words, while in some of the schools, three respondents were sampled, in some schools two respondents were sampled. The Biology result of 2 years period (2015-2017) for the five secondary schools were obtained from the school administrators. The 3 data research questions were analysed using frequency count and percentages while t-test and were used to test the hypotheses postulated at significant difference of 0.05. The findings of the study revealed that the academic performance of senior schools in Biology Students in Ilorin Metropolis between 2015-20] 7 was fair and the major factors responsible for the fair performances are teachers’ experience in Biology, teacher ‘s attitude, teacher‘s qualification, gender and relationship between teachers and students in senior secondary school in Ilorin Metropolis. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the teachers should intensify more efforts on developing themselves on their interpersonal skills with their students as this will go a long way in helping them identify the problem areas of the students in their subject. Also, both male and female biology teachers should be given opportunities in the assessment of students. Teaching experienced of biology teachers should not be a barrier to recruitment into teaching job or a measure for judging the academic performance of students in Biology.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                   i

Approval Page                                                                                                            ii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgements                                                                                                    iv

Abstract                                                                                                                      v

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vi

List of tables                                                                                                               viii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study                                                                                            1  

Statement of the Problem                                                                                           4

Purpose of the Study                                                                                                   6

Research Questions                                                                                                    7

Research hypotheses                                                                                                  7

Scope of the Study                                                                                                      8

Significance of the Study                                                                                           8

Clarifications of major Terms                                                                                    9

  CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Science and Biology in Senior Secondary School                                                     10

Concepts of Academic Performance and Teacher Characteristics                            13

Teachers’ Qualification and Students’ Academic Performance                                19

Teacher’s Year of Teaching and Students’ Academic Performance                          24

Teachers’ Attitude and Students’ Academic Performance                                        28

Teachers’ Gender and Students’ Academic Performance                                          32

Appraisal of the Literature Reviewed                                                                        33

                                                CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 

           

Research Design                                                                                                         37

Population, Sample and Sampling Procedure                                                            37

Research Instrument                                                                                                   38

Validation of the Instrument                                                                                      38

Procedure for Data Collection                                                                                    39

Data Analysis Techniques                                                                                          39           

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

Data Analysis                                                                                                             40

Summary of Findings                                                                                                 46           

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Discussion                                                                                                                  47

Conclusion                                                                                                                  48

Recommendations                                                                                                      49

Suggestions for further studies                                                                                   50

 

REFERENCES                                               51

APPENDIX                                                     58