A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF MALE AND FEMALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study compared the performance of male and female secondary school students in Sokoto State using Government Day Secondary School, Arkilla, Sokoto as a case study. The research centered on finding out the level of performance of secondary school students in Sokoto State and the factors that militate against good performance of secondary school students; as factors such as poverty, inadequate and obsolete infrastructural facilities, indiscipline, and inappropriate curriculum were considered. Three research questions were formulated based on the above. Two questionnaires ( for students and teachers) were constructed and administered first to students and teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Runjin Sambo, Sokoto as a pilot study . Afterwards, the same questionnaires were administered to 196 students and 20 teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Arkilla, Sokoto. The data obtained were analysed using frequency and percentage statistical tools. The findings revealed that females have better performance than males at the secondary level. It also showed that the performance of secondary school students in Sokoto State is on the average. In addition, the findings revealed that the factors earlier mentioned militate against good performance of secondary school students. There were discussions on the educational implications and some recommendations were proffered.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Over the years, the academic performance of students in secondary schools has been a source of worry to teachers, parents, educational administrators and the society at large. This is more evident in the fact that the input has not always been equivalent to the output. In other words, the knowledge impacted on students by teachers is not always seen reflecting on their performance.

Formal education which is practiced in schools cannot be complete without a certificate being given out. Before any certificate is given to any student, especially at the secondary level, there must have been an examination which would qualify such student for the next class. This kind of examination continues until a student reaches SS3, when he/she is expected to sit for West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE), and National Examination Council Examination (NECO) which are external examinations.

The importance of promotional examinations in secondary schools cannot be overemphasized for several reasons. The foremost reason for any promotional examination is that it remains the only criterion for allowing any student to move to the next class. A student is not expected to move to the next class after having failed the promotional examination, which takes place in third term of any academic session.

Previous studies on the performance of students were almost generalized for both genders. Not much has been done in attempting a comparison of the performance of males and females. This could be due to the fact that several researchers have failed to consider the possibility of having differences in the performance of both genders. If this is the case, it implies that different approaches and effort are required to assist the weaker gender.

The researcher is interested in comparing the performance of male and female secondary school students. This extends to finding out whether there is difference between the performance of males and females at secondary school level.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The main way of showing the academic ability of any student is by having a close check on the student’s performance. Records from previous works show that at certain periods, males have performed better than their female counterparts (Oladeji & Tayo, 2011).