FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. (A CASE STUDY OF GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL SHANI BORNO STATE)

This study investigate the factors affecting the academic performance of students at government secondary school (GSS) shani. This research was guided by four key objectives: to identify the socio-economic factors influencing performance, to assess the impact of teaching quality and school infrastructure, to examine the level of parental involvement, and to propose recommendation for improvement. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A sample of 150 respondents, comprising 115 students, 20 teachers, and 115 parents/guardians, was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected through structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and mean scores. The findings revealed that socio-economic factors are the most significant barrier to student achievement. A striking 65% of students reported missing school to support family businesses, while 70% lacked essential textbooks. The school infrastructure was found to be grossly inadequate, with 75% of students indicating that classrooms were in poor condition and overcrowded, and 85% confirming the absence of a functional library and science laboratory. While teacher punctuality was relatively high (70%), the effectiveness of teaching was hampered by large class sizes and a lack of resources. Furthermore, parental involvement was characterized more by general encouragement (55% of students reported often or always receiving it) than by active academic supervision, as 55% of parents rarely or never checked their children’s schoolwork. The study concludes that the academic performance of students at GSS shani is adversely affected by a complex interplay of pervasive poverty, critically deficients school infrastructure, and limited academic-focused parental involvement. It is recommended that a multi-faceted approach is necessary, including government intervention through targeted poverty alleviation programs and infrastructure investment, school-based initiatives to enhance parents-teachers collaboration, and community support programs to provide essential learning materials.