FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BASIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN EASTERN OBOLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT The study was carried out to examine the factors affecting academic performance in basic science and technology in secondary school in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area. Three research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The design for the study was descriptive survey research design. The population for the study consisted of 690 junior secondary schools two students from four public secondary school in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area. The sample for the study consisted of 100 junior secondary two (JSS2) students which were selected as sample for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of four (4) public secondary schools in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area outside the study area for the study. The instrument used for the study was Factors Affecting Academic Performance (FAAPQ). The instrument was subjected to face and content validity. A reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained for the instrument using test-retest method. Mean and standard deviation scores were used to answer the research questions while independent t-test was used for testing the hypotheses. The results revealed that there is no significant effect of teachers’ teaching strategies and students’ academic performance in Basic Science and Technology. The results also revealed that there is no significant difference of parent socioeconomic background and students’ academic performance in Basic Science and Technology. The results further revealed that there is no significant difference of non-availability of instructional materials and students’ academic performance in Basic Science and Technology. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded Basic Science and Technology have been made a mandatory subject for all Nigerian children at the basic education level. It was therefore recommended among others that, student should be guided in carrying out their studies well at this level of education.