CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
According
to the Federal Ministry of Education, as at 2004, the population of Nigeria
secondary schools stood at one hundred and eighteen thousand, two hundred
(118200) secondary schools while that of Imo state showed a total number of two
hundred and five (205). Owerri Municipal council had about seven (7) secondary
schools, with a population of Seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615)
students. This figure when compared with that of 1999 which was inclusive
according to Federal Ministry of Education was very high because during that
period, it was so in order to attract Federal Government attention.
The
present Nigerian population of secondary schools going by the above number is
almost twenty one thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight (21828) secondary
schools, with Imo state having three hundred and twelve (312) secondary schools
and Owerri Municipal 9 government secondary schools.
According to the
statistics department, Secondary Education
11
Management
Board (SEMB), there has been a rapid increase in the population of students in
Owerri Education zone from seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615)
students to ten thousand, five hundred and seventy (10570) students. There is a
constant increase in the population of secondary schools which runs contrary to
the new encyclopedia Britannica, volume (A) assertion. Unlike population of
insects, population rarely has been subject to explosive or collapsing numbers.
Overpopulation
refers to a situation where the total number of people in an area exceeds the
available resources. Overpopulation can also be defined as deficiency in
resources development in relation to the available people Osuji (2008). This
means existing resources can not march the immediate population number.
Evidence
has shown that the population of students in urban schools is on the increase.
The steady areas to enjoy recreational facilities, which keeps them busy after
studying is one of the factors that contributes to overpopulation of secondary
schools in urban areas.
Under
population of secondary school in Nigeria has had a negative impact in the
Nigeria educational sector, and the output is devastating in terms of loss of
standard and its attendant results.
This
situation of over population could be speculated to be speculated to be
responsible for the untold hardship, corruption, social disorder, poor standard
of living, crime etcetera. In this, there will be lower standard of education,
inadequate instructional materials, production of poor or a few quality text
books, congested classrooms and attendant education in characters (dropout as a
product of the so called schools).
Statement of the Problem
Over
the years, there has been an increase in the population of students in urban
secondary schools. This has been consistent, without the attendant increase in
facilities, teachers and infrastructure, etcetera. With the decline in the
quality of education and output, it therefore becomes imperative to find out
whether the increase in population of students’ directly affect their academic
performance and identify the causes of increase in population of students in
government secondary schools in Owerri educational zone and what could be done
to remedy the situation.
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to ascertain the
impact of class size and overpopulation on academic performance of government
secondary students specifically, the study intends to:
1. To know if class size have any effect on
the academic achievement of students
2. Identify the students – teacher ratio in
government secondary schools.
3. Identify the causes of increase in students’
population in government secondary school.
4. Find out the impact of the increase in
students population in government secondary schools on the academic performance
of students.
5. Make recommendations on how to curtail increase in students’
population.
Significance of the Study
This study will be of immense
benefit to students, teachers, educational planners, government and society at
large.
For
the students, it will motivate and increase their willingness to attend school
and help improve their performance in school.
To
the teachers, it will help improve abilities of the teacher to manage the
classroom efficiently because reduction in the number of students encourages
teacher – students’ relationship and leads to effective and efficient academic
performance.
To
the education planners, it will be a guiding material to enable them check the
population of students in relation to the available schools to accommodate
them.
To
the government, it will serve as a guide to identify the need to improve the
infrastructure available for teaching and learning.
The study will be of great significance to the society
at large as it will help produce qualified citizens that will contribute
positively to the growth of the society and it will also serve as a resource
and reference material to future students.
Research Questions
For the purpose of
carrying out this research, the researchers pose the following questions:
(1) What is the effect of class size on
the academic achievement of students?
(2) What
is the student – teacher ratios in government secondary schools?
(3) What are the causes of increased students’
population in government secondary schools?
(4)
What are the impacts of the increase in population of students in government
secondary schools on the academic performance of the students?
Scope of the Study
This research work is
restricted to only government secondary schools in Owerri Municipal Council.
The secondary schools are:
•
Government secondary school Owerri
•
Comprehensive Development secondary school
Owerri
•
Emmanuel
college Owerri
•
Government technical college Owerri
•
Ikenegbu
Girls’ secondary school Owerri
•
Holy
Ghost college Owerri
•
Owerri
girls’ secondary school
•
Urban
development secondary school Owerri
•
Boys’
secondary school New Owerri