ABSTRACT
The study focused on the effects of learning environment and students’ academic performance. It examined: the perception of undergraduate students towards their learning environment; the relationship between student’s learning environment and some selected demographic variables (Gender, Age, Level, and Institution); the relationship between student’s learning environment and students self-esteem; the relationship between students’ perception of their learning environment and their academic performance; and identify the challenges in students’ learning environment.
A survey research design was adopted and the population of study was drawn from three selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria; University of Benin, Benson Idahosa University, and College of Education, Warri. A sample of size of 200 students was used. The students were chosen randomly across various faculties in their respective institution. The study adopted the use of structured Questionnaires, tailored towards the objectives of the research, in obtaining data and responses from the respondents. Research questions were raised and hypothesis generated to guide the conduct of the research. Data obtained from the respondents were retrieved and analyzed using Descriptive statistics,mean frequency, Linear Regression models, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Independent t-test through the Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Findings indicated that undergraduate students have a positive perception of their learning environment, their perception of the learning environment does not vary in respect of the demographic variables (sex, age, level and type of institution); a positive relationship exists between students’ learning environment and their self-esteem; a positive relationship exists between students’ learning environment and their academic performance. Lastly, the major challenges confronted by students in their learning environment was found to include: Overcrowded lecture halls, Inadequate facilities/infrastructures, Noisy lecture environment, cultism, security, improper lightening and small lecture halls, no use of modern facilities during lectures, and Inadequate power supply.
Based on the findings, the study recommended that Tertiary institutions should continue to ensure that the learning environment is satisfactorily conducive for students and at all times, there should be constant acquisition, upgrade and maintenance of modern days school facilities to enhance learning; government should provide adequate funds to build infrastructural facilities through the management of schools in order to create a conducive learning surroundings for students.
