The Effects of Overpopulation on the Academic Performance of Students
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major objectives of this study is to;
- Examine the effect of overpopulation on the academic performance of students in Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns Uyo.
- Identify and examine the psychological effect of overpopulation in the classroom
- The study also aims at explaining how overpopulation in the classroom also affect teacher in the teaching/learning process.
- It examines the role of government to curb overpopulation as a panacea to redress the issue.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
The poor achievement of students in their academic performance has often been channeled to the ineffectiveness of the teachers, ignoring other factors that possibly influence the overall performance of students. Education which is the most potent tool for economic, social, technological and political development in any given nation of the world evolves through teaching and learning. Simultaneously, teaching and learning process can only be effective and efficient in a conducive environment. The students’ population pressure and large class size are teaching problems that need to be taken into cognizance in any educational discourse to ensure effectiveness of teaching and learning process. The academic performance of students which is an outcome of the teaching and learning effectiveness largely depend on the classroom population. Students’ academic performance also depends on the effectiveness of instruction given by teachers. It becomes obvious that effective teaching which leads to the attainment of goals can only be achievable in a conducive classroom with manageable size. Agba (2010) reported that the ability of the teacher to recognize the students and accord individual assistance to them depends on population or class size. The condition (conducive or unconducive) of the classroom will affect the teacher’s pedagogical delivery and the learner’s reasoning or interest in the teaching and learning process. This shows that an over-crowded classroom adversely affects the morale of teachers and students. This is why Ogbanna in Agba (2010) maintained that a poorly organized school cannot be compared with a school that enjoys a congenial academic climate good and adequate infrastructure, with qualified staff. He further observed that, as over-population affects the nation’s economy, so it affects the academic standard of students. The increasing rate of students in enrolment and the declining rate of the academic performance of students in public secondary schools (due to Universal Basic Education Programme) has for a long time been an issue of concern to government, parents and the general public. Asiyai (2004) and Agba (2010) identified crowded examination halls, large class size, inadequate furniture and textual materials as impediments to students’ achievement or success. This is a clear indication that school population and class size are also determinants of the academic achievement of students in any given school. Academic performance is one of the fundamental aims of a school, and this goal cannot be achieved successfully in the absence of good/conducive classroom environment.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with the method used in collecting data required in carrying out this research work it explains the procedures that were followed and the instrument used in collecting data.
SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
- Primary source and
- Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment, the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
INTRODUCTION
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analyzing the data obtained.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133 (one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
INTRODUCTION
It is pertinent to ascertain that the main objective of this study was to assess the effects of overpopulation on the academic performance of students in secondary schools, particularly in Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns Uyo.
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 and causes of overpopulation in secondary schools in Nigeria.
SUMMARY
Based on the data analyzed in the previous chapter, the following were derived;
Students whose schools are overpopulated score very low in the general examination. They also involve themselves in examination malpractice.
The students – teacher ratio in government secondary schools in between 60 – 65 students per teacher, and the population of students in the area is on the increase, with limited teachers, both in number and qualification.
It was also observed from findings that the migration of students in the rural areas to urban areas constitutes an increase in the students – teacher ratio. This proved that teachers in the urban area teach up to 60-65 students per class, this finding is in line with ( Zelinsky, 2001) assertion that overpopulation leads to deficiency in resources development in relation to the available people. It implies that the teachers available cannot be able to control the overpopulated students in order to get the required result. Also, according to (Bogue 1969, Simmons 1974), overpopulation does not only lead to deficiency of appropriate technology, but presses hard upon the resources and is generally growing at 2% per annum or more. The researchers also find out the total number of teachers in urban secondary schools is limited, compared to the increasing population of students in the area.
This study also revealed a lot of factors which contributed to the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools in the region.
It is discovered that students who study in overpopulated schools in the urban areas always score low in the general examination. The findings proved that greater number of the respondents strongly agreed with this assertion. Examination malpractice is also on the increase in overpopulated urban secondary schools, teachers and examiners in these schools cannot co-ordinate the examination properly and control students in the examination hall as a result of the overpopulated students.
CONCLUSION
The major aim of the study was to ascertain if overpopulation does affect academic performance of students in secondary schools. It was discovered that overpopulation is associated with lack of dedication to duty by the teachers, lack of student’s control, and lack of serious studies on the part of the students. Comprehensive secondary school, Four Towns Uyo in Akwa Ibom state was selected and used for this research. Questionnaires were issued to all the secondary schools involved in the research by visiting them one after the other by the researchers. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentage formula. The result obtained after analyzing the data revealed that the ratio of students to one teacher in the government secondary schools is more than the normal student – teacher ratio of 30 students per teacher, and the teachers in government secondary schools teach between 60-65s students, population in government secondary schools were analyzed, such as lack of recreational facilities in the rural areas, improper family planning, well-equipped laboratory and availability of infrastructural facilities in the government secondary schools. The study finally concludes that students whose schools are overpopulated perform poorly in the general examination compared to students whose schools have normal population. As a result of this findings, i persuade the government, teachers, parents, and those responsible for education administration to put heads together in giving quality education to the students. Also, we persuaded the government to reduce the size of each class to 30 students per class in order to enhance students’ academic excellence, and there should be a quota for enrollment into government secondary schools. It was suggested that there should be a replication of this research work in order to achieve more findings.
RECOMMENDATION
In view of the researcher findings, the researchers wish to make the following recommendations that are necessary;
- The ministry of education should give quota on the students’ enrolment in government secondary schools.
- The class size should be limited to 30 students per class to ensure academic excellence of the students.
- The government should provide infrastructural facilities in the rural areas to avoid students in the area migrating to urban areas.
- The entrance examination into urban secondary schools should be high. 5. The government should always organize a family planning program on the newly wedded couples.
- Trained and qualified teachers should be sent to both the urban and rural secondary schools.
- More private secondary schools should be established in the urban areas to help accommodate students in the area.
For future research the researcher also recommend for a wider geographical area in order to obtain disparity in academic achievement of students in urban secondary schools. Further investigation should be carried out on family planning and effective overpopulation control system.
Reference
- Agba, S. U. (2010). Students over population and its effects on their academic performance in senior secondary school certificate examination in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. Unpublished B.Sc. Ed. project Owerri: Imo State University.
- Asiyai, R. I. (2004). Examination malpractice in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria: The way forward. Journal of Research in Education 1(1), 20-24.
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- Beshavien, G.J (1992). Large Overpopulated cities in the under developed world. New York: Oxford University. Nkwocha, P.C (2007). Educational Research Process made Easy. Owerri: Chinas hop Publishers.
- Nnabuo, P.O (1999). Educational Management, Concept and Practice. Port – Harcourt: Bengray Co.
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