Influence of Preschool on Academic Performance of Primary Schools. A Case Study of Bwaril Area Council Fct Abuja
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of preschool on academic performance of primary schools in BwariI area council F C T Abuja. The specific purposes are;
- To ascertain the effect of preschool experience on academic performance of primary school student in BwariI area council of FCT Abuja
- To ascertain whether type of preschool attended influence academic performance of primary school student in BwariI area council of FCT
- To examine if there is significant variation in academic achievement between preschool educations experienced and non-preschool education experienced students in BwariI area council of FCT
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theoretical framework
Piaget’s theory
Jean Piaget (1896-1980). His work had the greatest influence on the study of child development. His conception of human development revolutionalized thinking about children and their behaviour. According to Piaget‟s theory, human development can be described in terms of function and cognitive structures. The functions are inborn biological processes that are same for everyone and remain unchanged throughout our lives. Their purpose is to construct internal cognitive structures. The structures, in contrast change repeatedly as the child grows (Vasta et al 2004).
Cognitive structures
The most fundamental aspect of Piaget‟s theory is the belief that intelligence is a process, not something that a child has but something that a child does. Piaget‟s child does not posses knowledge passively but understands the world by acting and operating on it. For example, Piaget would describe an infant‟s knowledge of a ball in terms of the various actions the infant can perform with it such as pushing the ball, throwing it, mouthing it, etc. these actions are a reflection of the cognitive structures of infancy, which are called schemes. A scheme consists of a set of skilled, flexible action patterns through which the child understands the world (Vasta et al, 2004). The focus of this study is to determine how a child‟s academic performance in primary school can be influenced by the activities the child is exposed to in his/her environment such as preschool influences during the early years of the child as theoritized by Piaget According to Piaget, during infancy, only a few schemes exist, they are related to one another in very simple ways. As development proceeds, however, schemes increase in both number and complexity of organization. These two characteristics of children‟s cognitive structures- number and complexity define the child‟s intelligence at any point in development. Schemes and other cognitive structures also display certain flexibilities. An infant does not perform exactly the same behavior with every ball he/she encounters. Some may produce more squeezing, others more rolling nor are the infants reactions the same with every object. The way a ball is grasped is different from the way a rattle is grasped and also different from the way a nipple is sucked ( Vasta et al, 2004). According to them, beyond these simple schemes of infancy, new and higher level cognitive structures gradually emerge. An 8-year-old confronted with a ball, for example, still has all the earlier schemes available, but the older child can also understand a ball by acting on it, using mental operations, such as assigning it to certain properties (colour, size), action(bouncing, hitting).
CHAPTER THREE
Research methodology
Research Design
The research design adopted in this research work is the survey research design which involves the usage of self-designed questionnaire in the collection of data. Under the survey research design, primary data of this study will be collected from selected primary school in Bwari area council in Abuja in order to determine influence of preschool on academic performance of primary schools. The design was chosen because it enables the researcher to collect data without manipulation of any variables of interest in the study. The design also provides opportunity for equal chance of participation in the study for respondents.
Population of Study
The population of study is the census of all items or a subject that possess the characteristics or that have the knowledge of the phenomenon that is being studied (Asiaka, 1991). It also means the aggregate people from which the sample is to be drawn.
Population is sometimes referred to as the universe. The population of this research study will be Seventy-five (75) selected primary schools in Bwaril area council in Abuja.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is about the analysis and presentation of data collected from the field through questionnaire. The analysis of the data with particular question immediately followed by the presentation of findings.
As mentioned in chapter three, 75 questionnaires were administered and 50 were retrieved and necessary analysis was carried out on them.
Data Presentation
This is the presentation of the quantitative data collected from the respondents through the questionnaire drawn-tabulation and percent (%) age will be used to analyze the data accordingly.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain influence of preschool on academic performance of primary schools. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of preschool on academic performance of primary schools
Summary
This study was on influence of preschool on academic performance of primary schools. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the effect of preschool experience on academic performance of primary school student in BwariI area council of FCT Abuja, to ascertain whether type of preschool attended influence academic performance of primary school student in BwariI area council of FCT and to examine if there is significant variation in academic achievement between preschool educations experienced and non-preschool education experienced students in BwariI area council of FCT. The total population for the study is 75 teachers from selected primary schools in Bwari1 area council of Abuja. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Most parents are becoming aware of the gains of early childhood education (preschool experiences) thereby sending their children to organized environments where they experience preschool. The quality of learning environment that a child experiences will influence the child’s learning attitudes in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. This would influence academic performance either negatively or positively.
Recommendation
- The educational policy of Nigeria be reviewed to include preschool (early childhood education).
- Preschool attendance be made a prerequisite for admission into primary school.
- The government should endeavour to equip the pre-nursery section with adequate facilities like that of the private schools so that better results would be achieved.
References
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