Analysis of Poor Performance of Senior Secondary Students in Chemistry in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the poor performance of students in Chemistry. The widespread poor performance and the negative attitudes towards chemistry of secondary school students have been largely ascribed to teaching problems. A random sample of 109 students from St Pius X College Bodo City was used. The research instrument was a reliable and validated 20 items likert type questionnaire which was administered on 109 secondary school students to obtain responses on the factors that are responsible for poor performance of students in Chemistry. The responses were analyzed using t-test statistics. At 0.05 significant level and 38 degree of freedom, the calculated t-value was 0.469 and the t-critical was 2.021. Since t critical was significant the null hypothesis was retained. Thus, there was no significant difference among the respondents concerning the factors that are responsible for poor performance of students in Chemistry in Nigerian secondary schools. One of the recommendations made was the need for efficient and effective teachers who are professionally and academically qualified to promote Chemistry learning in schools.

Key words: Performance, students, chemistry, secondary school.