AGE AND PARENTAL VARIABLES INFLUENCE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the influence of age and parental variables such as Parental occupation and education background on the students’ academic performance in Biology in Umuahia education zone of Abia state of Nigeria. The research was ex-post facto research design. A total sample of 120 students was drawn from the population using stratified random sampling. Questionnaire on Age and Parental Variable Influence (QAPVI) developed by the researcher was used for data collection. The reliability coefficient was 0.83. Data was analyzed using chi-square analysis in the empirical testing of the three hypotheses. Research questions were analyzed using percentages. The findings showed that there is significant difference between students’ ages, parental occupation status, educational background and academic performance in Biology. In line with the findings, it was also recommended that governments and other stakeholders should participate effectively and efficiently in various levels of education.