ABSTRACT: This study examined Environmental Variables and Students’ Academic Performance in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. Two research questions were raised and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study was two thousand eight hundred and fifty (2850) students. The sample size was two hundred and eighty five students and simple random sampling technique adopted. The scores of the two hundred and eighty five students selected in 2018/2019 first terminal examination in Agricultural Science was use for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using independent t-test. From the analysis of the data, it was indicated that home background and school location has influence on students’ academic performance. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made; parents and guardians should assist their wards in academic activities by provision of conducive home environment. Government should make enough funding for educational sector. Based on this study, it could be concluded that there is a significant influence of environmental variables on students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
In the contemporary world today, attention is focused on education as an instrument of launching nations into the world of science and technology and with consequential hope for human advancement in terms of living condition and development of the environment. This is because it’s the life of a nation, it is the life-wire of nation industries, it is the foundation of moral regeneration and revival of its people. Education is the bedrock of any nations defense (Azikiwe, 2011).
Education is that process that helps to develop the whole man physically, mentally, socially and technologically to enable him function effectively in any environment in which he may find himself (National Orientation Agency, 2012).
In this study, education is seen as a process of giving instructions to young and inexperienced to acquire knowledge, skills, values and attitude for living a better and sustainable life.
According to Ekop (2010) agricultural science is the branch of study that deals with the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals for human consumption and definite purposes.
Agriculture is a sector of economy activity which provides human beings with some of their most basic needs. Its outputs are food and raw materials without food product life can hardly be sustained, without the raw materials, the industrial sector of the economy can’t be fully developed. In fact, the economy of several West African countries is chiefly sustained by agriculture. For Nigerian economy to be revived it is pertinent that the agricultural sector must be positively positioned by training young and vibrant youths in schools and colleges.
In this study, environment being seen as a range of external forces acting on an individual or organism after his birth.Environment plays major role in the life of every individual whether a student, teacher, employer or employee.
Though, some people are yet to believe that conducive environment brings about better performance. Udoh (2010) in his article “The Environmental Health problems of Nigerian Schools” identified some unhealthy practices in our schools. These include sitting of schools, inadequate facilities, poor ventilation etc.
Environmental influence before now haven’t been considered as one of the factors that affect academic performance of students in agricultural science hence it has little or no attention in educational discourse and consideration. But over the past decade remarkable studies have indicated a correlation between the environment and academic performance of students. It is therefore noted that the ability of the learners to comprehend the knowledge imparted by the teacher-depends greatly on the environment (Oladele, 2015).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It is an indisputable fact that one of the challenges facing the teaching-learning process in school over the years is the dwindling academic performance of students in Agricultural Science both in internal and external examinations. This ugly development has been a subject of concern to stakeholders in education; mostly in a major subject like agricultural science which is of much valued in the nation’s economy.
However, most of our schools have no light, insufficient facilities, sick buildings and no ventilation. Under these conditions the health of students and teachers. These adversely affected the students’ performance. It is necessary to critically look at the environmental influence on students academic performance in Agricultural Science, measures that can helps improve them and make some recommendations. Studies have shown that environmental factors to a large extent affect both the physical and psychological potentials of an individual. This has led to the contention that many students fail to develop their potentials due to inadequate environmental stimulation. However, there are some environmental factors which have contributed to this poor performance of students in Agricultural Science which are home background, school location, as teacher-students relationship etc.
Given this situation, the problem of the study therefore is to find out really if these environmental factors influence the academic performance of students in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main objective of the study is to examine the environmental variables and students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
The specific objectives include:
i. To investigate the influence of home background on the academic performance of students in Agricultural Science in NsitUbium Local Government Area.
ii. To examine the influence of school location on the academic performance of students in Agricultural Science in NsitUbium Local Government Area.
1.4 Significance of the Study
It is anticipated that the findings of this study would be immense benefit to all and sundry in the educational sector. Particularly, school administrators, teachers, parents and the government at large in the following ways:
i. It would make known the environmental influence on students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in the study area.
ii. It would bring into focus the environmental factors that influence students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in the study area.
iii. It would add to the body of existing literature on environmental influence on valuation to students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in the study area.
iv. Finally, the findings of the study will serve as a reference material for further researchers.
1.5 Research Questions
In the course of the study, the following questions were used as a guide:
i. What influence has familysize on the academic performance of students in Agricultural Science in NsitUbium Local Government Area?
ii. To what extent does school location influence students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area?
1.6 Statement of Hypotheses
The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study in line with the specific objectives:
Ho1: There is no significant influence of family size on students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
Ho2: There is no significant influence of school location on students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
This study is limited to selected secondary schools in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area as major limiting factors include:
i. The weather condition and distance of study area.
ii. Time-frame for the completion of work-load.
iii. Insufficient fund
iv. The problem of external relations policies in some secondary schools in the study area.
1.8 The Scope of the Study
The scope or delimitation of the study is mainly to cover the environmental variables and students’ academic performance in Agricultural Science in secondary schools in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area as the case study.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Environment: A range of external forces acting on an individual or organism.
Education: The process of giving instruction to young and inexperienced to acquire knowledge, skills, values and attitude for living a better and sustainable life.
Agricultural Science: A branch of study that deals with the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals for human consumption and definite purpose.
School facilities: These are gadget, materials, resources and equipment available in the school.
Home background: The size or condition of the family where the child or learner is reared or nurtured.
Student: Is a person who is studying at a school.
Influence: Is the power that somebody or something has to make somebody or something behave in a particular way.
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