IMPACT OF SCHOOL LOCATION ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SOCIAL STUDIES AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ABAKALIKI EDUCATION ZONE OF EBONYI STATE.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of location on students’ academic achievement in social studies among Junior Secondary School Students in Abakaliki Education Zone of Ebonyi State. A co relational survey research design was used in the study. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. All the 2009/2010 S.S. 1 students of Public Secondary School in Abakaliki Education zone formed the population of the study. A sample of 10 Secondary Schools were chosen using simple random sampling, 258 respondents were chosen through proportionate stratified random sampling technique, which represents 10% of the total population. A researcher-developed checklist instrument duly validated by experts was used for data collection. The students’ JSSCE results was also collected and analyzed. Aggregate mean scores calculated based on the grades of the students were used to answer research questions, while Chi-square (X2) was used to test the hypotheses. It was found that among the major ways to
increase or boost student’s academic achievement in schools was to motivate the students by providing studying materials, giving prizes. It was also found that students, who come from polygamous family, single parents, uneducated parents etc. perform poorly in their academics. It was recommended that parents should give birth to 2-4 children so as to provide most of their needs towards education achievement in schools.