CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION:

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Science has become such an indispensable tool that no nation, developed, undeveloped or developing, wishing to progress in the socio-economic sphere will afford to relegate its learning in schools. The role of science in this modern era of technology cannot be over emphasized.

According to Olorundare (2011), the role of science in the development of modern societies is evident especially in the face of modern technological innovations. In other words, development of any nation is dependent on the advancement and application of science and technology (Ogunlaye & Fasakin, 2011; Awodun, Oni & Aladejana 2014).

This however cannot strive fully without the knowledge and understanding of the theories and principles of physics and their applications to real life situations. Physics is a natural science subject. According to Ojediran, Oludipe and Ehindero (2014), physics is the study of matter and natural events, through empirical observations and quantitative measurement.

Thus, for speedy national development with respect to science and technology, basic concepts and principles of physics are absolutely necessary.

However, despite the above expectations in the study of physics as an essential science subject that promotes better living, Guzel (2004) found that there is an alarming decline in physics academic achievement and physics has been a difficult subject for students from secondary school to the higher institution.

Sakiyo and Sofeme (2008) also report that students’ academic performance in physics has been low in both internal and external examinations.

In the light of this, Owolabi (2009) asserts that the rate of failure in physics at the senior secondary school internal and external examination is alarming and the reduction in the number of students offering the subject over the years call for concern.

Schools, colleges and universities have no worth without students. Students are most essential asset for any educational institute. The social and economic development of the country is directly linked with students’ performance.

The students’ performance (academic achievement) plays an important role in producing the best quality graduates who will become great leader and manpower for the country thus responsible for the country’s economic and social development (Ali et al, 2009).

Academic achievement is an apparent phenomenon in many developing countries like Tanzania since is measured in final examination (Form Four National Examination), whereby success is measured by academic performance or how well students meet standards set out by the National Examination Council (NECTA) and the institute itself.

Mosha, (2014) said that, students’ performance was affected by shortage of Physics teachers and absence of teaching and learning materials. However, her findings showed that, the presence of untrained, under-qualified and trained teachers who are incompetent resulted to skip teaching some difficult topics in the syllabus and students’ infrequent use of Physics at school and home, large class size, teachers’ responsibilities, poor conducive teaching and learning environment in the classrooms, limited home support environment and poverty are among the factors that affecting students’ academic performance in Physics.

Students’ effort, previous schooling (Siegfried & Fels, 1976; Anderson & Benjamin, 1994), parents’ education, family income (Devadoss & Foltz, 1996), self motivation, age of student, learning preferences (Aripin, Mahmood, Rohaizad, Yeop, & Anuar, 2008), class attendance (Romer, 1993), and entry qualifications as factors that have a significant effect on the students’ academic performance in various settings.

Ali Shoukat at el, (2009) said that the factors affecting academic performance are gender, age, schooling, father/guardian social economic status, residential area, medium of schooling, tuition trend, daily study hours and accommodation trend are the factors affecting academic performance.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Education system in Nigeria has been in crisis for many years largely due to the fact that the sector is poorly funded. This has led to shortage supply of learning materials and human resources being experienced in the system. Inadequate qualified teachers, high turnover rate of teachers, shortage of classroom, and poor remuneration of teachers and a host of other problems abound in the education sector. The economic crisis experienced in Nigeria impacted on the education system and had played a major role in the decline of the quality of Education offered in the country.

Meanwhile, the future of every nation depends largely on the fate of every child that is born into her; most especially those that are privileged to go through the academic walls of the nation starting from the primary level of education to the tertiary institution.

Education is an important industry for social, political and economic development and is being affected by the environment within which it exists.

Hence, national development has been founded by those who are experts in their areas of specialization, and this would not have been imaginable without the instrumentality of the educational system. Finally, several researches has been carried out on the influence of truancy on the academic performance of students but not even a single research has been carried out the influence of students characteristics on physics students and academic performance in Buruku local government area of Benue state.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim and objectives of the study is to determine the influence of student’s characteristics on physics students and academic performance. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the effect of student’s characteristics on academic performance.
2. to determine the extent to which student’s characteristics influence students academic performance.
3. to determine the factors affecting student’s characteristics and its effect on their academic performance.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1    What is the effect of student’s characteristics on academic performance?

1. What is the extent to which student’s characteristics influences student’s academic performance?
2. What are the factors affecting student’s characteristics and its effect on their academic performance?
3. What are the possible solutions to the problems?
   1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  Student’s characteristics on physics has no significant effect on student’s academic performance.

Hi:   Student’s characteristic on physics has no significant effect on student’s academic performance.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the influence of students characteristics on physics students and academic performance will be of immense benefit to the entire Buruku local government area of Benue state in the sense that it will enable the teachers and parents to examine and monitor the reading habit of the students. It will also enable the school management to set up a standard that will encourage and build up student’s academic performance in the school. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is on the influence of students characteristics on physics students and academic performance is limited to Bukuru local government of Benue state.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Influence         The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Characteristics       A feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify them.

Academic Performance: Refers to achievement in standardized tests or examinations shown by a student.

Student: Is a student, or someone who attends an educational institution.