EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of socio-economic background on students’ academic performance in secondary school in Egor local government area of Edo State. A descriptive survey was employed to carry out the study. A population of five thousand, two hundred and fifty-eight (5,258) students from public senior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area. One hundred and fifty (150) respondents were sampled for this study. To ensure a representative sample for this study, sampling was done using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument employed for this study was a self-structured questionnaire that sought information from the respondents from selected schools. The reliability of the research instrument was ascertained using testretest reliability technique. The reliability of the retrieved instrument was ascertained using Pearson’s Product Correlation Coefficient. A reliability coefficient score of 0.76 was obtained. Data was collected from the respondents and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count and simple percentages. The findings revealed that school environment had impact on the academic performance of students, the size of classroom had impact on students’ performance and that quality of teachers had impact on students’ academic performance. It equally showed that school facilities had impact on students’ academic performance. Finally, the school location had impact on student academic performances. Based on the various findings that emerged from this study, it could be deduced that classroom size, quality of teachers, school facilities as well as school location have significant influence on the students’ academic performance in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. It is of great concern to every stakeholder like parents, teachers, as well as government in the locality to provide enabling environment such as quality teachers, adequate teaching facilities and better location for students to excel in their studies at the same time help in bringing best out them. Based on the findings stated above, some recommendations were made, Government and proprietors of schools should provide adequate classroom buildings. Government and proprietors of schools should ensure that students are not overcrowded in a particular classroom. Government and proprietors of schools should ensure that existing dilapidated physical facilities are renovated and maintained. School management should a means of transportation to assist students from a far from school especially rural dwellers.