Effect of Availability of Equipment on Students’ Performance in Food and Nutrition
CHAPTER ONE
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The study sought to investigate the extent to which the availability of equipment in the teaching of Foods and Nutrition has on students academic performance .
Specifically, the purpose of this study is to;
- Det ermine the extent to which teaching materials and equipment affect students’ performance
- Identify challenges to effective implementation of Foods and Nutrition curriculum in some seconday schools offering the subject in Surulere Local Government
- Determine the strategies that can be employed to deal with these challenges.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This section examines literature related to the study. The review is examined under the influence of inadequate infrastructure on academic performance in public secondary schools from global, regional and local perspectives. Relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks have also been provided.
Academic Performance in Public secondary Schools
The role of secondary education is to lay the foundation for further education and if a good foundation is laid at this level, there are likely to be no problem at subsequent levels. Different people at different times have passed the blame of poor performance in secondary school to students because of their low retention, parental factors, association with wrong peers, low achievement, low retention, and the likes Aremu & Sokan, (2003), Aremu & Oluwole (2001), Poor academic performance according to Aremu (2000) is a performance that is adjudged by the examiner and some other significant as falling below an expected standard. Poor academic performance has been observed in schools especially public secondary schools Adesemowo, (2005). Aremu (2000) stresses that academic failure is not only frustrating to the students and the parents, its effects are equally grave on the society in terms of dearth of manpower in all spheres of the economy and politics.
Influence of Libraries on Academic Achievement
Oxford advanced learners dictionary described a library as a building or room in which collection of books, tapes, newspapers etc. are kept for people to read, study or borrow.
Library is an essential factor in teaching-learning process. It forms one of the most important educational services. The educational process functions in a world of books. The chief purpose of a school library is to make available to the pupil, at his easy convenience, all books, periodicals and other reproduced materials which are of interest and value to him but which are not provided or assigned to him as basic or supplementary textbooks. The importance of library has been demonstrated by the government when she expressed in the National Policy on Education (NPE) that every state Ministry needs to provide funds for the establishment of libraries in all her educational institutions and to train librarians and library assistants. As a resource, it occupies a central and secondary place in any school system. It supports all functions of school-teaching and provides service and guidance to its readers.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This section presents Methodology used in the study. It is presented under; Research Design, Target population, Sample Size ,Sampling Technique and, Research Instruments, Validity of Research instruments, Reliability of Research instruments, Data collection procedures and Data Analysis Techniques.
Research Design
This study used a descriptive survey research design. In using this design, data collection was carried out in a structured process. Kumar (2005) argues that the goal of descriptive research is to describe the characteristics of a selected phenomenon and involves the collection of data without manipulation of variables. The sole purpose of descriptive research is to provide an accurate and valid representation of the factors or variables that are relevant to the research question .Descriptive survey research is helpful in indicating trends in attitudes and behaviors, and enables generalization of the findings of the research study to be done. Neuman, (2000). This design is appropriate for this study because it will enhance the amount of quality information.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
Introduction
This chapter contains data analysis, presentation and interpretation of findings. The study intended to investigate the influence of inadequate infrastructure on academic performance in public secondary schools. The chapter discusses results of the study under the following headings: questionnaire return rate, demographic characteristics of the respondents, objectives of the study availability of equipment in the teaching of Foods and Nutrition has on students academic performance; namely how the state of school library, classrooms, and school desk influence academic performance in public secondary schools in Surulere Local Government of Lagos State.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter focuses on the summary of findings of the study which formed the foundation for discussions. The discussions provided a firm basis upon which conclusions and recommendations were advanced to address the influence of inadequate infrastructure on academic performance in public secondary schools in Surulere Local Government of Lagos State. It also includes suggested areas for further research.
Summary of Findings
The following are the key findings presented under the three objectives of the study as follows
School Library and its Influence on Academic Performance in Public Schools
The study shows that a large majority of the schools in Surulere Local Government had no library and that even those schools that had a library the reading materials in them were inadequate. Also, often the library was inaccessible. In fact, the study established no difference in performance between the schools with or without a library.
School Classrooms and its Influence on Academic Performance in Public Schools
The study shows that majority of public secondary schools in Surulere Local Government have permanent classrooms. However, most of the classrooms are unpainted, have no cemented floors, their walls are un plastered and are overcrowded with students. Such facilities are not conducive to good academic performance.
School Desks and their Influence on Academic Performance in Public Schools
The study shows that most of public secondary schools in Surulere Local Government have inadequate desks. Available desks are shared by more than two students and most of the desks are broken and often tear students’ clothes.
Discussion of Findings
This section discusses the key findings of the study against literature on academic performance in secondary schools.
School Library and its Influence on Academic Performance in Public Schools
The study shows that a large majority of the schools in Surulere Local Government had no library and that even those schools that had a library the reading materials in them were inadequate. In fact, the study established no difference in performance between the schools with or without a library the study agrees with Lagosseye (1986) who stated that total absence of an organized school library spells doom for thousands of secondary school students since schools operating without libraries has their academic performance of their students affected.
School Classrooms and its Influence on Academic Performance in Public Schools
The study shows that majority of public secondary schools in Surulere Local Government have permanent classrooms. However, most of the classrooms are unpainted, have no cemented floors, their walls are unplastered and are overcrowded with students. Such facilities are not conducive to good academic performance. This finding agrees with the Government of Kenya in the Koech Report (1999) which noted that congestion within classrooms affect the teaching /learning environment. The finding on overcrowded classrooms support Eshiwani’s (1988) finding that one of the factors that caused poor KCPE performance is lack of learning and teaching materials as these led to reduced learners’ motivation.
Recommendations
The following policy recommendations were made from the findings of this study.
- The Ministry of Education should ensure that schools infrastructure, including spacious and well-tendered classrooms with adequate number of desks should be availed to every public secondary school.
- In addition, the Ministry of Education should ensure that every secondary school has a spacious library that has an adequate amount of relevant books.
- In this effort, the Ministry should seek cooperation of donors that included concerned parents.
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