Journal of Educational Research in Developing Areas
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Effect of instructional materials on Biology instructions among high achieving secondary school students in SPED international secondary school, Oyo, Nigeria
Get PDFINTRODUCTION: Biology as a branch of science and a prerequisite subject for many fields of learning contributes immensely to the technological growth of the nation.
PURPOSE: This research was carried out to determine the effect of instructional materials on biology instruction among high achieving secondary school students in SPED International Secondary School, Oyo.
METHODOLOGY: Quantitative research method using quasi experimental design was adopted to test two hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Simple random sampling was used to select 20 samples out of the population of 30 that met the criteria for selection. A 20-item Biology Achievement Test with the reliability and validity of 0.93 and 0.78 was used. Pretest and post-test scores of the sample was analyzed using t-test statistics. Results showed that the one sample p-values of the mean pre-test and post-test (0.683, P>0.05). P values for both the mean scores of male and female high achieving secondary school student in biology was (0.000, P<0.05).
Results: Based on the findings of this study, there was no significant difference between the biology achievement of high achieving secondary school students taught with instructional materials and those taught without instructional materials. Meanwhile, gender was a potent predictor of academic achievement in biology among high achieving secondary school students.
RECOMMENDATION: The results notwithstanding, authors recommended that instructional materials should be consistently used by teachers for biology instructions as it enhanced students’ achievement but maybe not for high achieving secondary school students. Public and private schools should provide teachers with sufficient instructional materials for every subject
Effect of recreational physical activities on health related components of physical fitness of adolescents in secondary schools in Gboko local government area of Benue state, Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of recreational physical activities on the five health-related components of physical fitness of adolescents in secondary schools in Gboko Local Government Area.
Methodology: The study employed the Quasi-experimental research design. The population of the study comprised of Twenty-four thousand, six hundred and thirty-four- (24,634) Secondary School adolescents’ students in private and public secondary schools in the 2020/2021 academic session in Gboko Local Government Area. 200 participants (students) were sampled for the study using the multistage sampling technique. The University of Pretoria’s HRF index protocol was used for data collection in the study. The HRF index was used to calculate the health related components of physical fitness of the adolescents. Inferential statistics of t-test was used to analyse the differences in health related components of physical fitness between the Control Group and the study Group at 0.05 level of significance.
Results: Results of the study revealed that: Recreational physical activities have a significant effect on body composition; cardiovascular fitness; muscular strength; muscular endurance and flexibility of adolescents in secondary schools in Gboko Local Government Area.
Recommendations: Based on the findings, it was recommended that adolescents should further improve on their intensity of participation in recreational activities both at home and school in order to maximise total physical fitness
Ability estimation methods in computerized adaptive testing for assessment use
Get PDFIntroduction: The all the time use of linear computer-based test for ability estimation in Africa could be traced to the inadequate knowledge of the ability estimation of computerized adaptive testing to arrive at a precise ability estimate of examinee.
Purpose: The purpose of the search work was to explain method of ability estimation which is one of the grey areas in computerized adaptive testing for the researchers whose interest are on computerized adaptive testing.
Findings: This paper discussed the Maximum Likelihood Estimation method, provide its step-by-step formulae and its limitations of use in computerized adaptive testing.
Recommendations: The paper recommended the following: the use of the Maximum Likelihood Estimation method for the higher institutions of learning who wish to use computerized adaptive testing for her proficiency test or post-UTME; a wide usage of computerized adaptive testing as an alternative to the linear computer-based test or as a replacement of linear computer-based test because it estimates precise ability of the examinee; an academic seminar on ability estimation in computerized adaptive testing be organized to teach researchers and evaluators its psychometrics and applications
Socio-cultural factors on girls’ performance in Mathematics in the Kenya certificate of secondary education in Kathiani sub-county, Machakos county, Kenya
Get PDFIntroduction: In Kenya, Mathematics is a vital subject that is taught as a compulsory subject in basic education and as an optional subject at the tertiary education level. However, its performance by female students in Kenya has been lacking and especially at the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E) examination.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of socio-cultural factors on girls’ performance in Mathematics in K.C.S.E examination in Kathiani Sub- County. In particular, the study examined the location of the school and the teachers’ competence in Mathematics as the main variables.
Methodology: This study used descriptive survey design that answers the questions how, what, when, and where about the phenomenon under investigation. The target population included all secondary schools for girls in Kathiani sub-County. The total enrolment of the girls constituted of the target population of the study. The target population of the study comprised of 1804 girls, 87 Mathematics teachers, and 32 principals of secondary schools.
Results: The researchers established that students’ who moved least distance daily performed well compared to those who moved long distances. The study also established that teachers who are trained with high grades have been observed to produce students with good grades when compared to teachers who train to be teachers with lower grades.
Recommendations: The study recommended that adequate measures should be put in place to have day schools at close proximity of the students. In addition, instructors should develop their own pedagogical methods that would meet the students’ needs for them to excel in the subject
Incidence of sexual and psycho-social abuse of girl child in Birnin Kebbi and Jega towns, Nigeria
Get PDFIntroduction: Girl-child’s sexual and psycho-social abuse is an important social problem worldwide which affects the physical, mental, psychological health of a girl-child, these incidences occurs in homes, families, schools, communities, and other places where girl-child should feel safe.
Purpose: This paper was designed to investigate the incidence of sexual and psycho-social abuse of girl child in Birnin Kebbi and Jega towns. Two hypotheses were raised to guide the study.
Methodology: Descriptive survey design was employed in the study. The population of the study comprised of the entire SSSII students from eight public girls secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi and Jega towns. A sample of 300 students was drawn from the population of 3,017. Stratified random sampling was used to determine the sample size of each school in the quantitative approach. Simple random sampling was used to select the actual students that participated in the study. Girl Child Abuse Questionnaire (GCAQ) was adopted to collect the data. Experts in the relevant field validated the instrument, while the reliability coefficient was established using Cronbach Alpha at coefficient of 0.79.
Results/Findings: Based on the result of the study, significant difference existed in hypotheses 1-2. The study found that Birnin Kebbi town is more prone to abuse than Jega town.
Recommendations: It was recommended that parents should discipline children with love in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity so as to avoid the rate at which girls are involved in sexual assault and sexual abuse
Working conditions on retention of science teachers in public secondary schools in Kisumu county, Kenya
Get PDFIntroduction: Low retention of science teachers has become a major problem in the education sector all over the world.
Purpose: The study investigated the effect of working conditions on retention of science teachers in public secondary schools in Kisumu County, Kenya.
Methodology: Embedded mixed method design was adopted for the study while target population included 905 respondents which comprised 221 principals and 684 science teachers from 221 public secondary schools in Kisumu County. Stratified, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to sample 277 respondents who included 68 principals and 209 science teachers. Science teachers questionnaires and principals interview schedule were used to collect data. Pilot study was conducted in 7 public secondary schools in Kisumu County. Validity of the data collection instruments was determined through expert judgment whereas reliability was ascertained through internal consistency method using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient formula which yielded 0.848. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0 facilitated analysis of quantitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while thematic approach was used to analyze qualitative data. Quantitative findings were presented in tables whereas qualitative data were presented in narratives and verbatim form according to themes.
Results: The study established that working conditions significantly affected retention of science teachers and this included factors such as employee representation, health and safety and working load.
Recommendations/Classroom Implications: Principals should make a deliberate effort to provide protective clothes, warning signs and laboratory equipment to protect users from harmful emissions
Teachers' attitude towards quality assurance and standards officers in primary schools in Evurore, Mbeere north sub-county, Embu county, Kenya
Get PDFIntroduction: Since the inception of school inspection in Kenya, the function of Educational Inspectors was hampered by the way inspectors executed their duties thus influencing the attitude of teachers negatively. To reduce the negative perception of teachers new practices and innovative ideas have been established through the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards (DQAS).
Purpose: This study aimed at finding out if teachers' attitudes have changed towards Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASO) since of new name and mandate
Methodology: The study used a descriptive survey research design as it was able to obtain persistent and precise information concerning the current phenomena. The sample consisted of 228 statistically sampled using the Yamen formula. A structured and open questionnaire measuring the attitude of teachers was used. To check validity, expert opinion was sought while reliability was ensured at 0.70 using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. ANOVA and t-test method of analysis was the main statistical methods used to test the three hypotheses.
Results: The study established that female teachers had a more positive attitude towards QASO compared to their male counter parts although the difference was not significant. Further, the results revealed that a significant difference exists between more experienced teachers and less experienced teachers with less experienced teachers having a less favourable attitude towards QASO than less experienced teachers. Finally, the study found that teachers who were visited regularly had a positive attitude towards QASO compared to teachers who are not regularly visited or visited few times. In conclusion, teachers have appreciated the role of QASOs in quality education.
Recommendations/Classroom Implications: It is recommended that more frequent supervision may improve teachers’ attitude for better teacher classroom performance
Effects of school leadership in enhancing learners’ achievement in South African rural schools
Get PDFIntroduction: School leadership has increasingly been gaining attention from educational policymakers, and the entire educational society. Research has also confirmed that school principals are essential for developing and maintaining effective school systems. The role of school leadership in schools is highly complex and dynamic such that strategies are needed to change underperforming schools. This article reported on a small scale exploratory qualitative study that investigated the effects of school leadership in enhancing the learning outcomes of a cohort of schools in a rural setting in South Africa.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyse the role of principals in enhancing learning achievement in schools.
Methodology: The study took a qualitative research approach with an interpretive epistemological and constructivist ontological perspective. Qualitative evidence was collected from six schools in the same district through semi-structured interview question with educators and school principals. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select information-rich cases from the schools and in selecting the schools.
Results: Grounded in the accounts of our study participants, results from the study indicated that school principals are the cornerstones of achieving quality teaching and learning through motivating educators, training and providing distributed leadership
Recommendations: From the study findings, it was recommended that there is need to improve the basic unit of the educational institution which include structural, cultural and agential conditions to enhance the effective operations of school principals. There is a need to motivate and enhance existing forms of agency in ways that expand learners’ achievement
Development and validation of grade 10 science learning materials in selected secondary schools in district III, division of Puerto princesa city, Philippines
Get PDFIntroduction: With the recent implementation of the K-12 curriculum in the Philippines, teachers are challenged to develop relevant, research-based, and responsive instructional materials.
Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to develop and validate learning material in physics based on selected least mastered competencies for tenth grades. The researcher developed a set of learning material which covers the topic mirror and lenses.
Methodology: This study utilized the descriptive-developmental research focus on the development of instructional material. Mean and Mean Percentage Score (MPS) used to analyse descriptive data. Instructional materials support learning content, allow students to engage in the concepts application and provide an opportunity for evaluation. They are developed to help teachers facilitate learner’s prior knowledge, assist them to process and understand the new learning, and eventually aid them apply newly acquired knowledge to their practical lives.
Results: The result of the study showed that students has low mastery in the topic light, specifically in mirror and lenses. The developed set of learning materials was anchored to the ADDIE model: the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Recommendations/Classroom Implications: Teachers should develop learning materials based on the least mastered competencies of the students. The proposed learning materials is recommended for use in Grade 10 Physics classes. Further, the proposed learning materials should be subjected for further research to determine its effectiveness in improving the performance of students in science 10 Physics
Relationship of learning environment to learners’ attendance in public primary schools in Kwara state, Nigeria.
Get PDFIntroduction: Primary school system is a place where pupils receive knowledge between the ages of 6 to 11. The study examined the relationship between learning environment and pupils’ attendance in public primary schools in Kwara State.
Purpose: The study examined the impact of well ventilated classroom, furnished computerlaboratory and good furniture facilities on pupils’ attendance in primary schools in Kwara State.
Design: The target population of the study was 2,400 teachers of public primary schools in the State; the sample was 145 teachers of selected primary schools in each of the senatorial district in Kwara State using simple random sampling technique. The instruments used for the study were researchers’ designed questionnaires titled “Learning Environment Questionnaire (LEQ)” and “Pupils’ Attendance Questionnaire (PAQ)”. The questionnaires were administered on selected teachers in the sampled public primary schools in Kwara State. The questionnaires were subjected to content validation by 2 experts from the field of education. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was found to be 0.75 and 0.62 respectively using Cronbach Alpha statistics. Statistics of means and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while Pearson Product Moments Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypotheses raised in the study using SPSS version 21.0 at 0.05 level of significance.
Results: The study revealed that a good learning environment has a positive impact on pupils’ attendance in public primary schools in Kwara State.
Recommendations: Recommendation was made that Government through SUBEB to ensure more classrooms with wider space are provided for schools to accommodate more pupils and many others