ABSTRACT
The study aimed at Comparing the Performance of Students in Economics in public and private secondary schools in Uvwie Local Government Area as a case study. The main research work was guided by three (3) research questions and three (3) hypotheses. A random sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) students from the study area. Data was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire and were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between students’ factors and academic performance of economics students in public and private secondary schools and there is a significant relationship between teachers and institutional factors and performance of public and private secondary school students in SSCE Economics. It was therefore recommended that Delta State Government With her educational planners should embark on various programmes geared towards the training of teachers to develop better attitude to work rather than mere paper qualification. Students should make personal efforts in their studies so as to attain excellence in their studies and school authorities should provide standard equipment and facilities, for example standard laboratory equipment in their schools for the use of teachers and students.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Economics plays a prominent role in our society; in our schools and colleges. It is a vocational subject that combines all the branches of business and introduces the learners into business worlds. By virtue of its importance in our school curriculum, Economics is one of the compulsory pre – vocational subjects in the senior school certificate examination (SSCE). In spite of this key position of economics, it is surprising and unbelievable that only a small percentage of students pass it in the SSCE because only a few people know what this important subject is all about.
This study therefore aims at comparing the performance of students in economics in public and private secondary schools in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. The situation is so alarming that in some schools only few students emerge with at least a credit. The general belief is that schools poorly staffed are mostly affected by this and more money being [paid for enrollment in these schools is mostly found in the private secondary schools.
The problem of this disparity in the public and private secondary school students’ academic performance is not new in the field of education and it has been a highly controversial issue.
The general belief is that private school students perform better than their counterparts in the public secondary schools.
It is also equally believed that the public secondary schools are better staffed and exposed to such teaching facilities, which are highly advantageous to learning, while on the other hand, the argument says that high fees paid by the students in the private secondary schools help to provide qualified teachers even though they are few an also they complete the scheme of work which helps to equip the students.
From all these, one thing is certain, that is the fact remains that there is disparity between the academic performance of students in both the public and the private secondary schools.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Learners from both the public and private secondary schools are faced with different problems. Students in Uvwie Local Government Area have the advantage of being in the metropolis where there are lots of business enterprises. This is advantageous because the best way to learn the subject is by contact with business world.
But the nature of this business world turns these advantages into a big disadvantage. This is because most of the business entice are substandard and devoid of competent personnel.
This therefore to a large extent adulterates the student’s real knowledge of management which is the hallmark of economics. There are still many secondary schools in Uvwie Local Government Area with only one qualified economics teacher or even none at all. Some of these schools are forced to engage graduates in other fields to teach the subject. This no doubt will not argue well for effective teaching and learning of the subjects.
Added to the above is the teacher’s pre – occupation with their own private businesses which leaves them with little or no time to prepare and deliver their lesson adequately. This is therefore a two way distraction that to al large extent affects the student’s performance.
Thus, the focus of the study is to find out the extent to which private entrepreneurship has contributed to secondary education in economic in Uvwie Local Government Area. Moreover, the study is to find out if the input by both public and private hands has really been justified by the output in the field of economics.
1.3 Research Questions
The researcher seeks to answer the following questions:
Research Question One: Is there any significant difference in the performance of students in economics in both public and private secondary school senior school certificate examination (2011-2013)?
Research Question Two: Is there any relationship between student factors and the performance of public and private secondary school students in economics?
The answer to this research question was determined by analysis of responses to items 2, 3, 8 and 10.
Research Question Three: Is there any relationship between teachers and institutional factors and the performance of public and private secondary school students in economics?
1.4 Research Hypothesis
The study is aimed at testing the following hypothesis:
1. Hi: There is significant difference in the performance of students in economics in public and private secondary schools in public and private secondary schools
Ho: There is no significant difference in the performance of students in economics in public and private secondary schools in public and private secondary schools
2. Hi: There is significant relationship between students’ factors and performance of public and private secondary school students in Economics.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between students factors and performance of public and private secondary school students in Economics.
3. Hi: There is significant relationship between teaches and institutional factors and performance of public and private secondary school students in Economics.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between students’ factors and performance of public and private secondary school students in Economics.
1.5 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to investigate the performance of public and private secondary students in economics. This study will look into the following areas:
i. Comparing the academic performance of students in economics in public and private secondary schools students in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State using the standard SSCE result.
ii. To know if there is a relationship between students factors and the performance of public and private school SSCE Economics students.
iii. To know if there is a relationship between Teachers and institutional factors and the performance of public and private school SSCE Economics students.
1.6 Significance of Study
Some of the problems facing the school system and the society will be noted that the performance of students in economics is a matter of mutual concern. So the significance of this study is to recommend to the educational systems ways of bridging the gap between the performance of public and private secondary school students in economic with a view of raising the fallen standard of education.
The result of this study will demonstrate that an inspiring teacher can be a key to the success of his students despite the owner of the schools. It will further point out the weakness of the present educational system being implemented if any. This is in terms of providing equal educational opportunities to all Nigeria citizens and make recommendations for the democratization of educational opportunities.
1.7 Scope of Study
In the study, it will not be possible to get data from all the secondary schools in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. But due to time and financial constrain, the study is limited to some secondary schools in Uvwie Local Government Area which were randomly selected, schools which includes publicly owned secondary schools and privately owned secondary schools.
The teacher’s competence, the factors affecting performance, method of teaching economics, periods provided for economics studies in the time table and lack of standard teaching aids are some of the major areas to investigate upon. The major instrument of this study consisted of a questionnaire and the standard size SSCE result. This study will be restricted to Uvwie Local Government Area only.
1.8 Limitation of Study
Limitations in research deal with some of the difficulties and major constraints that confronted and affected the researcher in the course of this study. In this study, the researcher found it difficult persuading teachers and school authorities to give out useful information about the performance of their students and also the prevailing factors that affect the students’ performance. The teachers and school management were suspicious about what their response will be used for.
Traveling to schools was another area of difficulty. Transportation cost is usually high due to the incessant increase in fuel price and this affected the researcher in such a way that certain specific questions could not be obtained from the respondents because of the inability to travel several times to see such people
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
SSCE: it is the short form of Senior School Certificate Examination. It is the third phase of the secondary school programme stipulated by the 6 – 3 – 3 – 4 system of education in Nigeria as stipulated in the New National Policy of Education.
Performance: there are actions or achievements considered in relation to how successful a student is in the learning outcome.
Public Secondary School: these are school provided especially by the government for the general use of the citizens.
Private Secondary School: these are schools owned by individuals or group of persons and not by the government.
Qualified Teacher: a qualified teacher is a person who has reached the minimum standard of ability or knowledge required in order to teach a particular subject in the school curriculum.
Unqualified Teacher: an unqualified teacher is a person without legal or official qualification required in order to teach a particular subject in the school curriculum.
