INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN INTRODUCTORY TECHNOLOGY IN CALABAR METROPOLIS OF CROSS RIVER STATE.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influence of environmental factors and junior secondary school students' academic performance in Introductory Technology in Calabar metropolis. Environmental factors devolved into class size, availability of infrastructure, and parental marital status was the independent variable, while junior secondary school students' academic performance in Introductory Technology was the dependent variable. The study was organized into five chapters to ensure a comprehensive and detailed research presentation. To accomplish the research objectives, research questions were formulated, and null hypotheses were derived from them. The study employed a survey research design and collected data through a structured questionnaire, which was administered to a sample of one hundred and seventeen (117) Introductory Technology students in junior secondary schools in the study area. The collected data were then analyzed using simple linear regression. The results of the analysis indicated that There is a significant influence of class size on junior secondary school students' academic performance in Introductory Technology in Calabar Metropolis, there is a significant influence of availability of infrastructure on junior secondary school students' academic performance in Introductory Technology in Calabar metropolis and that there is a significant influence of parental marital status on junior secondary school students' academic performance in Introductory Technology in Calabar Metropolis. It was therefore recommended among others that efforts should be made to maintain smaller class sizes, as this has been shown to have a positive impact on students' academic performance in Introductory Technology. Also that Schools should focus on improving and expanding their infrastructure, including the creation of conducive classrooms, well-equipped libraries, and access to ICT facilities, and Counseling services and support mechanisms for families facing marital challenges should be made available to ensure a supportive environment for students.