Abstract:
The study, investigated influence of school variables on academic achievements of senior secondary
school biology’ students in Taraba State, Nigeria. The design of the study was ex post- factor. The
population of the study consisted of all SSIII Biology students in Jalingo Education Zone, with
population of 8,748 students. The sample size of the study was 2,400 from six Public and six private
secondary schools in Jalingo Education Zone. The student’s WAEC biology academic achievement in
Taraba State (proforma) 2013-2017 formed the instrument for data collection. It was validated by three
experts from the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences Education, Modibbo Adama
University of Technology, Yola. Four research questions and five null hypotheses were used to guide
the study. Descriptive statistic of mean score was used to answer the research questions. The t-test
inferential statistic was used to test the hypotheses 14 while ANOVA was used to test hypothesis five
at 0.05 level of significance. The following findings were recorded; Urban Secondary School Biology
Students performed significantly better than their counterpart in Rural Secondary Schools in Jalingo
Education Zone of Taraba state (t= 3.81, p= 0.00), Students in Small class size performed significantly
higher than their counterparts in large class size in Jalingo Education Zone of Taraba state (t= 3.98,
p= 0.00), Students in schools with well-equipped laboratory performed significantly better than
students in schools with poorly equipped laboratory in Jalingo Education Zone of Taraba state (t=
3.81, p= 0.04), Students in Private and Public School performed equally(t= -0.29, p= 0.99), and there
was no significant cumulative effect of School variables (school laboratory, class size, School
Ownership and School location) on biology academic achievement (F=1.12 sig.= 0.29). The study
recommended that government and other school proprietors should bridge the gap between the rural
and urban school locations by providing both the urban and rural dwellers the social amenities which
will enhance better academic achievement of biology students. Likewise, enough grants to school
owners to equip laboratories with chemicals and apparatus. |
Keywords:
School Variables, School Location, School Ownership, School Laboratory, Class Size,
Academic Achievement |
