CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Poor academic performance according to Aremu (2003) is a
performance that is adjudged by the examine/testee and some other significant
as falling below an expected standard. Poor academic performance has been
observed in school subjects especially Mathematics and English language among
primary school pupils (Adesemowo, 2005). Aremu (2000) stresses that academic
failure is not only frustrating to the pupils and the parents, its effects are
equally grave on the society in terms of dearth of manpower in all spheres of
the economy and politics.
Education at primary school level is
supposed to be the bedrock and the foundation towards higher knowledge in
tertiary institutions. It is an investment as well as an instrument that can be
used to achieve a more rapid economic, social, political, technological,
scientific and cultural development in the country. The National Policy on
Education (2004) stipulated that primary education is an instrument for
national development that fosters the worth and development of the individual
for further education and development, general development of the society and
equality of educational opportunities to all Nigerian children irrespective of
any real or marginal disabilities.
The role of primary education is to
lay the foundation for further education and if a good foundation is laid at
this level, there are likely to be no problem at subsequent levels. However, different
people at different times have passed the blame of poor performance in primary
school to pupils because of their low retention, parental factors, association
with wrong peers, low achievement, low retention, and the likes (Aremu &
Sokan, 2003; Aremu & Oluwole 2001; Aremu, 2000).
Morakinyo (2003) believe that the
falling level of academic achievement is attributable to teacher’s non-use of
verbal reinforcement strategy. Others found out that the attitude of some
teachers to their job is reflected in their poor attendance to lessons,
lateness to school, unsavory comments about pupil’s performance that could
damage their ego, poor method of teaching and the likes affect pupils’ academic
performance.
The question therefore is what is the
cause of this fallen standard and poor academic performance of pupils? Is the
fault entirely that of teachers or pupils or both of them? Is it that pupils of
today are non achievers because they have low intelligent quotient and a good
neutral mechanism to be able to act purposefully, think rationally and deal
effectively with academic tasks? Or of is it because teachers are no longer
putting in much commitment as before? Or is it in teachers’ method of teaching
and interaction with pupils? Or is the poor performance of pupils caused by
parents’ perception of the causes of poor academic performance among primary school students in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of problem
The differential scholastic
achievement of students in Nigeria has been and still a source of concern and
research interest to educators, government and parents. This is so because of
the great importance that education has on the national development of the
country. All over the country, there is a consensus of opinion about the fallen
standard of education in Nigeria (Adebule, 2004). Parents and government are in
total agreement that their huge investment on education is not yielding the
desired dividend. Teachers also complain of student’s low performance at both
internal and external examination. This problem are attributed to poor
foundation from primary school due to poor teaching standards as well as other
factors such poor funding of education by government as well as negligence by
parents.
It is against this constraints that
the researcher sees the subject matter as an empirical problem worthy of
investigation.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The central objective of the study is
to assess the factors responsible for the poor academic performance in public
primary schools. The specific objectives are:
i. Ascertain environmental factors as
causes of poor academic performance of pupils in primary schools in Gwagwalada
Area Council Abuja.
ii. Examine teachers factors as causes of
poor academic performance of pupils in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area
Council Abuja.
iii. Determine the attitudes of pupils as
causes of poor academic performance of pupils in primary schools in Gwagwalada
Area Council Abuja.
iv. Find out attitudes of parent as causes of
pupils poor academic performance in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council
Abuja.
1.4 Research Questions
This research will attempt to answer
the following questions:
i.
Is
the poor performance of pupils in primary schools in Gwagwalada caused by
environmental factors?
ii.
Is
the poor performance of pupils in primary school Gwagwalada caused by teacher’s
factors?
iii.
Is
the poor performance of pupils in primary school Gwagwalada caused by teacher’s
factors?
iv.
Is
the poor performance of pupils in primary school Gwagwalada caused by the
attitudes of parents?
1.5 Basic assumptions
From the poor academic performance of the pupils from
public primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council Abuja the researcher based
her assumption as follow:
i.
The
poor academic performance of pupils in public primary schools in Gwagwalada
Area Council Abuja is predicated on the pupils’ study habits and attitudes to
learning only.
ii.
That
the non-availability of instructional and other facilities like classroom size
furniture etc influences pupils academic performance in public primary schools
in Gwagwalada Area Council Abuja. The pupil’s environment and regular visit of
inspector of education influence. The academic performance in public primary
schools in the area of study.
1.6 Significance of the study
The
justification of the study lies in the fact that it will bring out and correct
the factors that lead to poor academic performance in the public primary
schools. It will also help the government the non-go-environment agencies and
the society at large to know and appreciate their effort and give necessary
support for the improvement of teaching and learning in out primary schools.
1.7 Scope of the study
This research
work covers an empirical study performance of pupils in public primary schools
in Gwagwalada Area Council Abuja. The study focused entirely on the academic
aspects of the schools. Therefore, the finding in this research work is guided
or dependent on information derived from the sample schools. The study covers a
period from 2006-2011.