Strategies For Improving Low Academic Performance In the English Language In Secondary Schools
The modern trend in education and
the complex nature of learning and instruction have made the role of the
teachers more challenging. This new role does not just involve the more
transmission of information to students but it involves looking at the problems
associated with learning and instruction. The National Policy on Education
(NPE, 2004) in Nigeria emphasized that our children should be educated properly
so that they can acquire skills and competencies that would enable them to
function well and solve problems in society. The accomplishment and realization
of these important educational goals in Nigeria lie in the new trend in
educational approaches.
These new approaches to learning and
instruction expose the students to conceptualize and effectively manage their
own learning and thus reinforce their learning and transfer their training to
practical situations. Despite the new approach to learning and instruction, the
English language at the Senior Secondary School level in Nigeria has been
plagued with poor results and low achievements. Annual results from West
African Examinations Council (WAEC) reveal woeful performances from the
students who have made enrolment for English language examinations a yearly
ritual. It is worrisome to note too that the performance of these students has
continued to deteriorate year after year. It is understood that if the
situation in the English Language remains like this, it will affect both the
economic and technological growth of the state. This is because a good mastery
of the English language is mandatory for all students in order to do well in
other secondary school subjects. Students who are handicapped in the English
language are therefore likely to be handicapped in the acquisition of skills in
arts and technology-related subjects.
From the foregoing, therefore, we
can conclude that the English language is an indispensable language of
communication in Kaduna.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
This research as stated above
concerns itself with the study of strategies for improving low academic
performance in the English language by suggesting a possible solution to the
following questions:
- i) What are the attitude/feelings of the students
towards the studying English language?
- ii) What accounts for the decline in performance in the
subject (English language)?
- iii) Do they have enough material and human resources for
the teaching and learning process?
- iv) Do they understand the subject very well?
- v) Does the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE)
syllabus have either a positive or a negative effect on student
performance?
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to
find out strategies for improving the performance of secondary school students
in the English language. Specifically, it ought to:
- i) To find out the types of facilities available in the
secondary schools for teaching the English language.
- ii) To identify the methods of teaching used in
teaching the English language.
- iii) To identify the extent to which teachers are
motivated to teach the English language.
- iv) To identify strategies for improving the low
academic performance of students in the English language.
1.4 Research
Questions
The following research questions
were formulated to guide the study:
- i) What type of facilities is available for teaching
the English language in secondary schools in Kaduna State?
- ii) What are the methods of teaching adopted by English
Language teachers?
- iii) To what extent are English Language teachers
motivated?
- iv) What are the strategies for improving the low
academic performance of students in the English Language?
- Significance of the Study
This research work intends to
investigate student achievement in the subject. The research will be
significant in the following ways:
- i) The findings of the study will shed light on the
nature, contents examination and performance level of the SSCE examination.
- ii) The findings of the study will contribute
meaningfully to the knowledge of teaching and learning the English
language, especially with the role of English in day-to-day communication.
- iii) The findings of the students will also benefit the
Ministry of Education in Kaduna State by recruiting qualified teachers in
order to improve the performance of the students.
1.6 Delimitation
of the Study
The study covers strategies for
improving low academic performance in the English Language in Secondary Schools
in Kaduna State. Respondents were drawn from selected secondary schools in
Kaduna North Local Government Area.
1.7 Limitation
of the Study
In any type of research work, are
many hindrances that the researcher must come across in the course of the
assignment. The problem encountered in the course of this could be attributed
to delays in gathering the relevant data needed for the research work and the
uncompromising attitude of the people to give the required information. Time is
another major limitation as far as the research work is concerned. The time
needed to implement the work may not be sufficient for logistic reasons.
Financial resources may be lacking in carrying out the required work of the
project.
1.8 Definition
of Terms
- Performance:
This relates to the execution carried out or putting into effect the task,
job or operation.
- Teacher:
A professional trained to impart knowledge to pupils/students.
- Assessment:
Evaluation or estimation of the nature, value or quality of something or a
subject.
- Effectiveness:
It is the ability to determine appropriate objectives, that is, the degree
to which School’s goals are met within established resources “doing the
right thing.”
- Indiscipline: This
can be described as a mode of life not in conformation with rules and
non-subjection to contain. The term connotes the regulations capable of
obstructing the smooth and orderly function of the school system
- Reading: This is the
process of receiving and interpreting information encoded in language form
via the medium of print.
- Writing:
Writing is the process by which an author uses his mental ability to put
words to paper as well as the result of that process.
- Speech:
Expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by
articulate sounds.
- Mother Tongue:
This is the original and first language of an individual which they
acquire from their parents.
- L2: This
is language two. This is a second that is learnt as a second language in
addition to their mother tongue.
- FGN:
Acronym for Federal Government of Nigeria.
- Curriculum:
Curriculum is the subjects comprising a step-by-step guide of a course of
study in a school.
ABSTRACT
This study examines strategies for
improving low academic performance in the English language in secondary schools
in Kaduna state. Over the years, there has been a consistent decline in
students’ performance in the English Language. This sordid situation has caused
teachers, parents, curriculum experts and evaluators a serious concern. To
carry out this investigation, data were collected from thirty-eight (38)
English language teachers randomly from twenty secondary schools in Kaduna
North Local Government Area. Analysis of the data revealed that poorly trained
English language teachers, poor instructional delivery, lack of infrastructural
facilities, teachers’ attitude toward innovation, and the traditional
content/knowledge-oriented curriculum were factors associated with students’
low performance in the English language. Based on the findings recommendations
were made on strategies that will improve the quality of performance in the
subject. In this work, data was collected in the area of material, facilities
and human resources available for teaching the subject, using questionnaires,
personal interviews and relevant textbooks. Put together, the research
questionnaire distributed was forty.
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