CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

According to the Federal Ministry of Education (2004), the population of Nigeria secondary schools stood at one hundred and eighteen thousand, two hundred (118200), while Imo state had a total of two hundred and five secondary schools (205). With a student population of 7,615 students, Owerri Municipal Council had about seven (7) secondary schools. This figure was very high when compared to that of 1999, which was inclusive according to the Federal Ministry of Education, because it was so during that time to attract Federal Government attention.

According to the above figure, there are nearly 21828 secondary schools in Nigeria, with 312 secondary schools in Imo state and 9 government secondary schools in Owerri Municipal (Education, 2008).

According to the statistics department (2008), the population of students in the Owerri Education zone increased rapidly from 7615 to 10570. The population of secondary schools is steadily increasing, contrary to the assertion of the new encyclopedia Britannica, volume (A). Unlike insect populations, human populations have rarely experienced explosive or collapsing numbers (Micheal, 2012).

Overcrowding occurs when the total number of people in a given area exceeds the available resources (Osuji, 2008). Overpopulation is also characterized as a lack of resource development in comparison to the number of people available (Osuji, 2008). This means that current resources are unable to keep up with the current population.

Evidence suggests that the number of students enrolled in urban schools is increasing. One of the factors contributing to the overcrowding of secondary schools in urban areas is the consistent availability of recreational facilities to keep students occupied after school (Fatima, 2010).

The under-population of secondary school students in Nigeria has had a negative impact on the Nigerian educational system, with disastrous consequences in terms of lost standards and their consequences (Ernest, 2009).

This overpopulation situation could be blamed for untold hardship, corruption, social disorder, a low standard of living, and crime, among other things. There will be a lower standard of education, insufficient instructional materials, production of poor or few quality text books, overcrowding in classrooms, and attendant character education (dropout as a product of so-called schools) (Charles, 2007).

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The number of students enrolled in urban secondary schools has risen steadily over time (Uju, 2009). This has been steady, despite the fact that there has been no growth in facilities, teachers, or infrastructure. With the decline in the quality of education and output, it is necessary to determine whether the increase in student population has a direct impact on their academic performance, as well as to identify the causes of the increase in student population in government secondary schools in the Anambra state and what can be done to address the situation (Joe, 2010).

1.3    OBJECTIVES  OF THE STUDY

The study's major goal is to determine the influence of overpopulation on the academic performance of government secondary students in particular.

i.          Determine the reasons behind the growth in the number of pupils in government secondary schools.

ii.        Determine the impact of an increase in the number of students in government secondary schools on student academic performance.

iii.      Make recommendations on how to reduce the number of pupils in the classroom.

1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.          What are  the reasons behind the growth in the number of pupils in government secondary schools?

ii.        What are  the impact of an increase in the number of students in government secondary schools on student academic performance?

iii.      What are the recommendations on how to reduce the number of pupils in the classroom?

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