ABSTRACT

This study was on the factors associated with mass failure of students in chemistry in secondary schools
in Nsukka L.G.A of Enugu State. Using simple random sampling procedures, the researchers drew 128
students and 50 teachers from nine state owned secondary school of Enugu State.

Questionnaires were used to elicit information from the respondents- Teachers and students on the
problems associated with mass failure of secondary school student in chemistry in WAEC Examinations.
The questionnaire items included qualification and experience of the Chemistry teachers, the methods
they adopt in teaching the subject, the materials available to them for use in teaching the subject, the
influence of the vernacular language in student learning of the subject and home environment.

In analyzing the data collected, means scores were used to answer the research questions. The results
showed among other things, that the teachers knowledge of teaching the subject is not updated often
times and that there is absence of teaching facilities in most of the schools while vernacular language
and home environment have negative impacts, towards the students’ the findings, recommendations
were made and implications were highlighted. This was followed by suggestion for further studies,
summary of the study and conclusion.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Over the years, there have been growing concerns about the attitude of students towards the study of
Chemistry in secondary schools. The need to adapt our education to the needs of the Nigerian society
started before and after independence. Many educational elites began to recognize that the functional
inadequacies of the educational system inherited from the colonial education failed to develop positive
values, attitudes and habits in our society because the Chemistry they taught was British oriented and
has nothing to offer to the Nigerian child.
Fafunwa (1974) observed that the present educational system instead of developing positive values in
the society which the African child lives, tends to alienate him from his cultural environment. This was
the reason behind the re-evaluation of the educational system and the curriculum of the school and
objectives that are relevant to the society.

The major ideas and philosophies behind the curriculum innovation in the 1969 National Curriculum
Conference according to Akinlaye (2001) were:

The need to make education more relevant to the needs of the individuals and the society.

The need to use education for national integration and socio-economic development.

The need to develop the right societal value and;

The need to make an individual responsible to the society in which he lives.

This has been the case; the National Policy on Education (2004) has in recognition the important role
Chemistry will play towards the achievement of the country’s educational aims and objectives. Thus,
Chemistry was made a core subject. Hence, there is a greater responsibility for Chemistry teachers in
Nigeria today than the days before independence; this is because the Nigerian youths now live in an
environment characterized by social ills and moral decadence which have to be curbed at all cost. The
youths therefore need Chemistry education which focuses on the problems and issues of human beings
in their changing environments and seeks to develop desirable habits, values, attitudes and skills in
order to solve them.

Researchers have concentrated much on the cognitive aspect of teaching in our secondary schools
because of the importance attached to success in public examinations; however, there is interplay
between the cognitive and affective areas of teaching. For example, Taylor (2001) and Gunsch (2005)
have shown that there is a relationship between interest and developments in different school subjects,
therefore, it is believed that favourable attitude towards Chemistry may influence to a considerable
extent the uptake of knowledge in Chemistry.

Studies relating to specific aspects of students’ attitude towards Chemistryand other related subjects
have been undertaken by several researchers. Jekayinfa (2007) has reported that high grade in
Chemistry at lower forms is a factor that can pull students to history in the secondary schools in Nigeria.
In the study of factors associated with interest in science, Ormerod and Dukworth (2000) have also
identified a number of factors like personality, home and other environmental factors among American
and British High School students.
1.2 Statement of the Problem

The poor attitude of students towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools in Nsukka Local
Government is in an unsatisfactory state of affairs and imbalance in the educational sector in particular
and the nation’s development in general.

Chemistry as a core subject in the junior secondary school level suggest the importance the government,
parents and students themselves attach to the study.

The phenomena increase in students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in junior secondary
schools should not be allowed to remain for too long unattended to.

The need to motivate students to develop positive attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary
school and to create a conducive environment for studying Chemistry is not disputable and cannot be
over-emphasized.

The unfortunate thing is that students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in schools is fraught with
a lot of problems. There is a general belief that whenever students perform poorly in their courses the
teacher has not really taught them well. People hardly look at the problem from the point of view of the
student’s attitude towards the courses; the problem of this study therefore is to ascertain why students
have poor attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools.

1.3 Research Questions

Does teacher – student’s relationship influence on students’ performance in Chemistry?

Does the nature of school environment affect student’s performance in Chemistry?

Does school management system influence teaching and learning process in Chemistry?

1.4 Research Hypothesis

H0: There is no significant influence of cultural backgrounds on students’ performance in Chemistry.

H01: There is no significant influence of teacher – student’s relationship on students’ performance in

H03: There is no significant impact of the nature of school environment where teaching is practiced in
relation to student’s performance in Chemistry.

H04: There is no significant influence of school management system on teaching and learning process in
Chemistry.

1.5 Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is to know the factors associated with mass failure of students in
Chemistry in primary schools. The following specific objectives are to guide the study:

To examine the influence of cultural backgrounds on students’ performance in Chemistry.

To identify the influence of teacher – student’s relationship on students’ performance in Chemistry.

To examine the influence of school management system on teaching and learning process in Chemistry.

1.6 Significance of the Study

As Nigeria is still a developing nation, it is hoped that the findings of this research will encourage various
governments to provide conducive environment, teaching aids and qualified teachers for effective study
of Chemistry in secondary schools.

This study is of educational importance because it is believed that if Chemistry teachers in secondary
schools understand the factors which stimulate the growth of interest in Chemistry, such knowledge
may provide bases not only to make Chemistry popular but also to make the teaching of Chemistry
humanizing.

Re-orient students with negative attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools. Assist
the government to identify students’ attitude towards the study of Chemistry in secondary schools.
Serve as a basis for other researchers who are carrying out investigation on similar problems facing the
development of education in Nigeria. Help teachers and educational planners to acquire knowledge of
solving problems associated with the attitude of students towards the study of Chemistry in secondary
schools.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is to ascertain the Factors Associated With Mass Failure Of Students In Chemistry
In Primary School Case Study of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

A research of this nature requires adequate time to ensure thorough work, but the time allowed for this
study was limited.
Some respondents may not have provided accurate and sincere answers that represent the true
situation required for some of the questions in the questionnaire.

The researcher experienced a lot of problems during the process of this study which are as follows:

Delay in administration of questionnaire due to public holidays.

Typing and administration of extra copies of questionnaire because some respondents did not return
their copies.

Appealing to the principals of some of the schools used for the study due to interruption of lectures.

1.9 Definition of Concepts

The following concepts were defined:

Influence: According to the Sun Mobile Dictionary, the term influence is the “power to affect another”.
The Oxford Advanced learner’s dictionary defines influence as “the effect that somebody or something
has on the way a person thinks or behaves or on the way that something works or develops”.

Environment: The Sun Mobile Dictionary defines Environment as “surrounding, things, conditions, etc.”
The Oxford Advanced learner’s dictionary defines it as “the conditions that affects the behaviour and
development of somebody or something; the chemistryal conditions that somebody or something exists
in”.

Academy: The Sun mobile dictionary refers to the concept academy as a “school”. A school on the other
hand is a place of learning. A school is a place where children are thought (Oxford mini School
Dictionary: 2007). A primary school can therefore be called an Academy.

Performance: The Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary defines the term performance as “How well or
badly you do something”. Performance as directly related to this study can also be defined as how well
or badly students of Primary schools do in their academic work.
Academic Performance: This can be defined as the score a child or individual obtain in test or
examination based on his or her learning experiences.

Socio status: This is the total state of an individual based on inequality in terms of occupation, level of
education and other societal issues defined by the environment.

Education: This is a formal instruction or training given to a child in school. According to the 6th edition
of the Oxford dictionary, it is a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or
colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.