CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

          In recent times in Nigerian, and more importantly in Akwa Ibom State, Public schools have suffered a steady decline in effective service delivery while few private schools have apparently been providing the needed alternative to parents seeking qualitative education for their wards. This situation becomes more worrisome as these private schools are free-paying and are operating in our urban and semi-urban areas. (Etim, 2009).

          As Akwa Ibom State is predominantly a rural community, the educational fate of our children in these rural areas has been of very serious concern to the government of the day. Therefore, the goal of free and compulsory qualitative education for all is still a mirage. The government is aware that free – paying school provides alternative learning opportunity only to children of the privileged class. But majority of our children are still in the public school. The commitment of government in the provision of free and compulsory education for all children was enhanced through the provision of conducive atmosphere for effective learning, teaching quality, inspectorate improvement and infrastructural development.

          Measures that were recently taken have served as a great relieve to parents and motivator to students/pupils academic performance (Asuquo 2010). Several actions taken recently to improve upon the quality of education in both primary, secondary and in our territory institutions, include standardization of the inspectorate  directorate with sufficient equipment to work with; the reform of the primary school curricular with a view to teaching literacy numerals skills: provision of the key textbooks, standard school libraries and complete refurbishing of dilapidated primary school building which were abandoned and unused in time past (Awana 2009).

          These innovations in education sector have really affected secondary schools in Uyo positively and the pupils academic in both written and spoken English. The free and compulsory education which was formulated and aimed at answering these questions of “how well are children; when do we ensure effective learning in our school; what do we expect our children to do in our schools and who supervise the teaching in our school (Akpan 2000).”

          Return to the basic is therefore a synopsis of the key components of education reform and its positive effect on the academic performance of students in secondary schools (Akpan 2010).

There are many benefits of this programme to justify the huge cost. Free and compulsory schooling ensures the knowledge of English language of the pupils and other basic subjects and this facilitate good citizenship and success in modern life. The free and compulsory education encourages the students/pupils to be educationally oriented and discourages them in getting involved in child labour and idleness.

Since this was introduced during the regime of Governor Akpabio, many Educationists and state holders in Education have critized this both positively and negatively. Some say that enough facilities and equipment and human resources were not provided before the take off of the programme. Teachers were trained and employed to meet the population explosion which many schools have witnessed, hence, the poor performance in public examinations especially WASSCE. Some authors and educationists say that what the free and compulsory education has brought to our students are vital. It is the opinion of these people that it has really boost the ego of  students and parents; that those who did not think of going to school have done so, but the question is, has this programme faired well with the students’ performance in WASSCE results?

1.2     Statement of the Problem  

          This study is poised to identify the influence of free and compulsory education on Academic Performance of students in Secondary Schools as per WASSCE results since its inception. It is a confirmed fact that a lot of candidates fail WASSCE in English because of many reasons. Some attribute it to the teachers, some attribute it to the free and compulsory Education. Some believe that since the introduction of free and compulsory Education results of students in final Examination is worst. This calls for investigation to ascertain, this allegation by some Educationists, psychologists sociologists, guidance and counseling stakeholders in Education and parents.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

          The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the new policy of free and compulsory education on academic performance of secondary school students in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as per WASSCE results. Specifically, the study seeks to:

1.     Examine the influence of tuition-free education and academic performance of the student/pupils in English Language in WASSCE

2.     Ascertain whether school facilities like libraries and other facilities have effect on the students/pupils’ performance in English language in WASSCE.

1.4     Significance of the Study

          One of the primary significance of the study will be that it will identify some of the major problems embedded in educational policies in Nigeria with a view to finding solutions to them.

          It will also provide educational policies planners’ information on how to advance their educational ideologies in terms of provision of facilities as well as suggesting ways of improving the performance of students/pupils thus meeting the nation’s desired educational goals.

1.5     Research Questions

          The following questions guided the study.

1.     Does tuition – free education influence the academic performance of secondary school students in English Language in WASSCE?

2.     Does a school facility influence the academic performance of secondary students in English Language in WASSCE?

1.6     Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were formulated:

1.     There is no significant influence between tuition – free education and academic performance of secondary school students in English Language as per free and compulsory education in WASSCE. 

2.     There is no significant influence between school facilities and academic performance of secondary students in English Language in WASSCE

1.7     Research Assumptions

The following assumptions were made about the study.

1.      That the free and compulsory education in Akwa Ibom State has enabled the senior secondary school students in public schools in Uyo Local Government Area to acquire the necessary knowledge that help them to improve their academic performance in English Language.

2.     That the improved school facilities such as libraries and acquisition of textbooks and other stationery have really helped to improve the academic performance of the senior secondary school students in English Language in WASSCE.

1.8     Delimitation of the Study

          This study is delimited to the influence of free and compulsory education on the academic performance of students in English Language in secondary schools as per WASSCE. It is delimited to the influence of school facilities on academic performance of students/pupils taught English language in senior secondary and finally, it is delimited to the influence of manpower on the academic performance of students of English language in senior secondary schools.

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