SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

This study investigated the persistent challenges associated withlearning Literature in English in Senior Secondary Schools, with a focus on identifying the key factors that hinder students’ interest, comprehension, and overall performance in the subject. Despite the central role of Literature in fostering critical thinking, cultural awareness, and language proficiency, many students continue to demonstrate poor engagement and low achievement. This research therefore examined a range of contributory issues, including students’ attitudes, students’ interest and instructional methods, the availability and suitability of learning materials, and broader environmental and administrative constraints. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from students across selected Senior Secondary Schools. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain reliable insights into the experiences and perceptions of the participants. Data gathered were analyzed using qualitative method to identify dominant themes and patterns. Findings revealed that major obstacles to effective learning of Literature in English include insufficient exposure to literary texts, students’ perception of the subject as difficult or irrelevant, inadequate teacher expertise, and limited use of engaging or interactive teaching strategies. Other notable challenges include overcrowded classrooms, limited time allocated to the subject, and poor access to recommended textbooks. The study also found that socio-cultural factors and a lack of reading culture negatively affect students’ motivation and ability to appreciate literary works. Based on these findings, the study recommended the provision of instructional materials, encourage positive student attitude towards Literature in English, schools should create opportunity such as reading clubs, literary competitions and drama activities to foster motivation and engagement with the subject, enhance the school learning environment and classes should be well structured and conducive for learning. The study concluded that addressing these challenges holistically will significantly enhance the teaching and learning of Literature in English in Senior Secondary Schools.

The study was designed to investigate the impact of students’ characteristics on the academic performance of senior secondary schools in randomly selected schools in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State. Poor performance has been the order of the day over the years in public senior secondary schools’ examinations. It was observed that many interacting factors may cause poor performance of students in secondary schools. Student characteristics such as age, career choice, gender, study time, class attendance being amongst the factors were referred to as student characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of students’ characteristics (age, career choice, gender, study time and class attendance) on academic performance of senior secondary school. Five research questions were raised to guide the study. Stratified random technique sampling was used to select schools for the study. Two hundred and thirty-seven (237) students registered from five (5) selected public senior secondary schools were used to carry out the study. The item on the questionnaire was developed based on the objectives of the study. Data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative method where descriptive statistics including mean, frequency, percentages as well as standard deviation were used. It was observed that students’ age, career choice, gender, study times and class attendance influence students’ performance in senior secondary school. The study shows that (37.1%) were 17 years old, also majority of student (29.5%) would wish to pursue
medical related career while the highest mean performance of (61.4571). It was also
observed that female had the highest population of (54.4%) and the mean performance score of (59.0370). (37.9%) of respondent choose home and holiday as their convenient study time and had the highest mean score of (76.8890), and finally students who attended classes regularly were (69.6%) and had highest mean score of (53.6667). Counsellors should be employed in public senior secondary schools who will in-turn guide the students towards making a better career choice. However, there were significant relationship between students’ characteristics and academic performance.

The study investigated the factors militating against effective teaching of Christian Religious Studies in public Senior Secondary Schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were raised and examined. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. An analysis of data was done using frequency count, mean and standard deviation. The sample size for the study was made up of 150 respondents. The findings from the study include that there is a high level of effective teaching of Christian Religious Studies in public senior secondary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. It was concluded that lack of teacher’s motivation, unconducive learning environment and poor teaching methods all constituted the factors militating against effective teaching of Christian Religious Studies in public Senior Secondary Schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. It was therefore recommended among others that the government should put in more efforts to ensure adequate provision of resources, including textbooks, teaching materials, and classrooms to enhance the effective teaching of Christian Religious Studies

This study carried out an assessment on examination malpractice in senior secondary schools. The study identifies the nature of examination malpractice in Nigerian schools, pointing out some of the student’s behaviours during examination that can be associated with examination malpractice. Behaviours such as talking during examination, unnecessary movement, asking of question from fellow candidates, and coming late to examination venue among others. Also, the roles played by the society and how parents aid and abet this act of malpractice were discussed. And lastly, some measures that are capable of minimizing its growth in our educational system were also suggested. A survey research design and a purposive sampling technique is what the researcher used to collect data for the above topic and a sample size of two hundred (200) respondents consisting of fifty teachers (50) and one hundred and fifty students (150). The findings of this study shows that examination malpractice is increasing despite different measures that have been put in place by different scholars who have treated similar topic. However, in this study, the researcher suggested more measures that is believed will go a long way to minimize, if not eradicate the menace of examination malpractice. As a result, recommendations was made regarding the illegal act.

This study dealt on the Examination of Safety Practices in Biology Laboratory at Senior Secondary School in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Data was collected from one hundred (100) public senior secondary school teachers and
students selected from five public senior secondary schools in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. An analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics which include frequency count and simple percentage.The findings from the study include that the type of design and fitting in the biology laboratory do not ensure safety in senior secondary schools in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.It was concluded that that there is inadequate laboratory equipment. The researcher also concluded that the services of laboratory assistants and personnel ensure safety in biology laboratory and that safety practices are applied by the students during practical section in biology laboratory in Senior Secondary Schools in Warri South Local Government Area of
Delta State. Some of the recommendations made include that government should provide funds to equip scanty laboratories building for practical’s that can accommodates both student and their teacher to make teaching easier and leaning faster. It was also recommended that laboratory building should be set aside at the school environment in order to avoid distractions.

The study focus was on the factors influencing the effective teaching of reading and writing skills among senior secondary school students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The design adopted for this study was the descriptive survey method. Five (5) research questions were raised to guide this study. The population of the study consisted of all fourteen (14) public senior secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size for this study was a total number of one hundred (100) respondents; that is forty (40) students each from the five (5) schools sampled. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from respondents. Data collected from the survey was statistically analyzed. After analysis, results were displayed on tables showing frequencies and percentages of responses. The findings of the study revealed the factors influencing students’ reading and writing skills in Oredo Local Government Area which included teachers’ qualification, teaching methods, learners’ personality and background among others. Ways to improve students’ reading and writing skills in English Language serve as the recommendations provided for this study which includes but not limited to the following; teachers identifying slow learners and using appropriate teaching approach, schools employing qualified teachers, teachers considering the background of the learners when teaching, and so on.

This research work is centered on factors influencing mass failure of students in Chemistry examinations in Ovia north east LGA. It also investigated student's attitude towards Chemistry and if the use of available resources influence student's achievement in Chemistry. In the investigation three research questions were raised. This research adopted a survey research design. The population of this study include two thousand seven hundred and twenty (2720) senior secondary school students in Ovia north east. The sample size of the research was eighty three (83) students who tookpart in the study. The research instrument was a self-constructed questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach's Alpha, the reliability coefficient value was 0.80. The findings of the research revealed that the factors that contribute to the persistent poor performance of student in Chemistry in Ovia north east are due to the use of only one method of teaching, teaching without aids, parents negligence in showing interest in students school work and poor attitude towards Chemistry. Based on the findings, the following recommendation among others were made. Parents should provide the necessary motivation and assistance to their children in other to change their attitude towards learning of Chemistry. Teachers should not hold onto only one method of teaching that suit the prevailing situation and topics to be taught.

This study was designed to analyze the challenges of teaching Biology in senior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. This study was guided by four research questions.
The design adopted for this study is the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of all Secondary Schools in Egor Local Government Area. The research instrument used for this research is the questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was done by the supervisor. The data was analyzed with the use of simple percentages and mean.
The findings revealed that the lack of instructional materials and a non-conducive environment are some challenges of teaching Biology in senior secondary schools. It is recommended that the government and all stakeholders in the Ministry of Education should make provision for instructional materials to be
available in every public secondary school and that the teachers should also endeavor to incorporate the use of instructional materials in their lesson periods.

The study Surveyed the Methods of teaching Biology in senior secondary schools in Benin City. Three (3) research questions were raised to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of five thousand six hundred and seventy eight (5,678) students in Benin City. Two hundred (200) students formed the sample of the study. They were randomly sampled to ensure fair representation. The instrument that was used for this study was a question naire titled, ‘Questionnaire on Survey of Methods of Teaching Biology in Senior Secondary Schools’ (QSMTB r=.82). Data obtained from the instrument were analyzed using frequency count, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study revealed that Lecture, Discussion and Demonstration methods are the methods used by Biology teachers in teaching. Students perceive their Biology teachers’ teaching method as a factor affecting their interest to learn the subject. Students perceive their Biology teachers’ teaching method as a factor affecting their academic performance in the subject. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that teachers should use more of learner- centred methods rather than teacher- centred methods of teaching.