Factors Influencing Choice of Financial Accounting by Senior Secondary Students
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose of the Study
The major purpose of the study is to examine the factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting at SSCE level in Government Secondary Schools in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically the study intends to identify:
- student factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting subject,
- parental factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting subject ,
- teachers factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting subject,
- government factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting subject,
- administrative factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting subject.
CHAPTER TWO
Review of related literature
A lot have been written on student’s poor choice in the senior secondary certificate examination (SSCE). The reason for this chapter is to view related literature on the poor choice of students in financial accounting at SSCE level in Nigeria Secondary Schools. The review is organized into the following sub-headings:
Conceptual framework:
- Historical Background of Accounting
- Concepts of financial Accounting,
- Concept of choice,
- Factors influencing the choiceof business students,
Theoretical framework
- Murray’s Theory of motivation
Empirical frame work
Summary of review of related literature
Conceptual framework
Historical Background of Accounting
There is no accurate record as to when accounts started, but available information suggests that record keeping is as old as man. The starting point can be linked to the merchants in the Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations, about 4000 year B C. the mode operandi for keeping records then was to make mark on the wall or stone or papyrus or wax tablets. The method of keeping financial record was highly primitive. Accounting is also motivated in the Christian Bible (Matthew 25:19) in the parable of the talents.The history of accounting is not complete without mentioning the name of an Italian monk and Mathematician LUCCA PACIOLO. In 1494, the crucial event in accounting was the introduction of double entry book system in Italy described as “Italian Method”. In his famous treatise Summa De. Arithmetical Geometrical Proportion etproportionalita in 1994 in Venice.Reverend father Lucca Paciolo by giving insight into the reasoning behind accounting records. He postulated that all entries must have a double- entry one a debtor, and one a creditor. Even though during this period the records were prepared to show statement for the business rather than the owner, but the yearly preparation was still lacking.
After Paciolo, a Dutchman advocated the profit and loss account at yearly interval. The level of civilization and technological advancement helped in the development of modern method of accounting.
During the industrial revolution there was need to sophisticated accounting methods. Different professional bodies were formed e.g. ICA Scotland in 1854. ICA England and Wales in 1880, etc. With the development of new methods ownership was separated from management. Since the discovery of the double entry principle, there has been tremendous development in accounting theories and methods. The introduction of micro and mini computers have brought enhanced choice but the fundamental principles remain unchanged. In Nigeria, record keeping has antecedents in the ancient kingdoms and Empire and prominent then was the periodic contributions which were recorded on the wall. But the granting of royal character to Royal Niger Company was the turning point period in record keeping. The governing accounting principles in Nigeria as almost the same as the one’s in Britain.
In 1965, the institute of chartered Accountants of Nigeria was established and affiliated with the professional institutes in Britain and USA. Many Nigerians came back as professional accountants and became members. The institute was charged with the responsibilities of regulating accounting procedures and practice in Nigeria.
In 1982, Nigeria Accounting standard Board was established to set standards to guide accounting operations. Members include Accounting Teachers Association, Chamber of Commerce, Central Bank of Nigeria, Finance Ministry of Nigeria, etc. Now in Nigeria/ there are two recognized bodies namely institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANA)of Nigeria.(Essential accounting textbook for senior secondary school).
CHAPTER THREE
Research methods
In this chapter, research design, area of study, population, Sample / sampling procedures, instrumentation and method of data collection and method of data analysis are discussed,
Research Design
The descriptive survey research design was used in this study. Descriptive survey is a method of collecting information by interviewing or administering a questionnaire to a sample of individual (Orodho 2006). The survey was chosen because it employs the use of questionnaire to collect data. The design was to help the researcher to assess the factors influencing the choice of students in financial accounting subject.
Area of study
The area of the study is Enugu East local Government Area of Enugu State. It is located Nkwo- Nike Village, Amaorji Nike along Nike Road Abakpa-Nike Enugu State
CHAPTER FOUR
Results
This chapter presents the analysis of data, interpretation and results of the study. The analysis was based on the information collected using a structured questionnaire. The presentation of responses from the respondents were given in tables and also interpreted. A total of 341 questionnaires were distributed and all were properly filled and used for the study.
CHAPTER FIVE
This chapter presents the discussion, summary of the findings, conclusion, educational implication, recommendations limitations and further suggestions.
Discussion of the finding
In the table 1, The result of findings revealed that Students fails to attend financial accounting classes regularly, they join bad groups in school, they fail to copy their notes and have the required textbook for accounting, and they pay less attention to class lesson which result to their poor choice in financial accounting subject both in internal and external examination and they will find it difficult to cope in the higher institution of learning.
From the table 2, item 6 and 7 dealt with research question, which mean score is above 2.5. the of the findings result that Parents gives less attention to the academics of their children; this will make the child not to focus on his or her academics,they fail to purchase the required textbook for their wards; when others are making use of their textbook, the child will be left out and items 5 and 8 with the mean score below 2.5 rejected the that Parents fail to pay their wards school fees on time, and Parent involving his/her child in a lot a domestic work before and after school hours and is not the parental factors influencing the students’ choice in accounting.
Table 3,the result of findings revealed that Teachers makes the subject too difficult for students to understand by not explaining the content well and with the absence of instructional materials,they have low motivation due to poor remuneration by the government, they don’t spend reasonable time to prepare his/her lesson plan and lesson note, they don’t have enough time to cover up his/her syllabus or scheme of work the teachers factors influencing the choice of students in accounting.
Table 4, it indicated that the respondents accepted the governmental factors influencing the students’ choice which states that the government do not provide experienced and qualified business studies teachers, they don’t pay the teachers on time, they don’t provide well equipped libraries, they don’t provide sufficient school buses to enable the students who live far to meet up with his/her classes.
Table 5, it indicated that the respondents accepted the administrative factors influencing the students’ choice, which state that management do not provide adequate instructional materials/teaching aids for the school, the environment is not conducive for learning and the class are over populated.
Summary of finding
The researcher found out the factors influencing the choice of students in accounting subject. In the summary, the following was observed:
Table 1, the result of findings revealed that students fails to attend financial accounting classes regularly, they join bad groups in school,they fail to copy their notes and have the required textbook for accounting, and they pay less attention to class lesson which result to their poor choice in accounting.
Table 2, Parents gives less attention to the academics of their children, Parents fail to purchase the required textbook for their wards, and they fail to pay their wards school fees on time.
Table 3,the result of the findings revealed that Teachers makes the subject too difficult for students to understand by not explaining properly and with the absence of instructional materials,they have low motivation due to poor remuneration by the government, Inability of the teachers to spend reasonable time to prepare his/her lesson plan and lesson note, they don’t have enough time to cover up his/her syllabus or scheme of work.
Table 4, the result of the findings revealed that the governments don’t not pay the teachers on time. They don’t provide experienced and qualified accountingteachers. They don’t provide well equipped libraries. They don’t provide sufficient school buses to enable the students who live far to meet up with his/her classes.
Table 5, the result got also shows that,there are no teaching materials such as recent text books provided for the Students, There is no adequate instructional materials/teaching aids provided for the school by them. There are no conductive environments.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the responses to this finding. It could be concluded thus, teacher’s , government and administrative factors can make the students develop hatred for the subject which will latter affect their choice and the number of the students wishing to study accounting at the higher level.
Furthermore, parental influence affects student’s choice in accounting subject whereby parents should always encourage their children by way of checking their work at home.
Finally, students, parents, accounting teachers, administration and Government should try and work effectively and immensely to improve the quality choice of financial accounting subject. Students not only for examination sake but also to have knowledge about entrepreneur, accounting and office work and for the betterment of our Nation.
Educational implication
The result of this research work has obvious implication to the choice of students in financial accounting subject;
- It is observed that students attendance tofinancial accounting classes regularly, staying away from bad groups in school, copying notes and have the required textbook for accounting, and paying attention to class lesson, will improve their choice in financial accounting subject.
- Paying great attention by the parents to the academics of their children, purchasing required textbook and paying their wards school fees on time, will enhance the effective learning of financial accounting subject.
- Teacher’s ability to explain the subject properly with the best method and materials, spending reasonable time to prepare his/her lesson plan and have enough time to cover up his/her syllabus or scheme of work , will help to improve the choiceof student in financial accounting subject.
- Provision of experienced and qualified accounting teachers, provision of best equipments in the library, provision of school buses by the government to enable the students who live far to meet up with his/her classes will improve the students choicein accounting.
- Teaching materials such as recent text books provided for the Students, less population of the students in a class and conductive environments provided by the management will also enhance the effective learning of financial accounting.
Recommendations
- To improve on the business Students’ attitude, the following recommendations were made:
- students should try as much as possible to attend financial accounting classregularly,try to asks/answers question in accounting subject especially when they are confuse about a certain problem, and avoid bad friends.
- To improve on the Parents’ attitude, the following recommendations were made:
- Parents should adopt strong measures to prevent influence of peer groups and also to control their children.
- To improve on teacher’s factors, the following Recommendations were given:
- Teachers provide more explanation to the students questions during accounting lectures, and spend time to prepare his/her lesson plan and lesson note carefully,
- To improve on the Governments’ attitude, the researcher recommended the following:
- government should provide adequate professionally trained accounting teachers to handle the subject effectively, improve the condition of service of teachers in order for them to put in their best that paying them on time and giving them allowances, and make accounting facilities available in all Secondary Schools.
- To improve on the administration attitude, the researcher recommended that:
- principals should provide instructional materials such as chalkboard, rulers, ledger book, and calculator. Equipment like adding machines typewriter and computers should also be made available. Libraries should be sited in a conductive environment, employ qualified accounting teachers for teaching accounting subject and make the environment conducive and make sure that there school is under populated with students.
Limitation of the study
The researcher did not really encounter much problem in the course of the research. The only problem encountered was the construction of questionnaire and danger of exposure to road accident while moving around from school to school to share and collect items from the respondents.
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