1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the study
There has been a growing interest in recent years over the performance of students in Nigerian schools and this has generated a lot of concern about standard of education in the heart of many people.
Ukeje (1976) defined education as a process a product and discipline. He maintained that, as a process education is responsible for both the transmission and transformation of the cultural heritage of a people; as a product, it can result in constructive and destructive tendencies and as a discipline, it is concerned with what to teach, how to teach, and the purpose of teaching. Education is a continuous process of learning which begins at birth and continues till death.
A comparative study of the educational development of yester — years and that of contemporary time would portray that there is a great disparity as regard the performance of student at the secondary school level in the past and present. The market is difference in the poor quality and student academic performance in the present day secondary schools in general perfective is seen in education field as the declining in standard of education.
The declining in standard and quality has manifested self in the student poor academic performance in the West African school certificate examination in general and English and mathematics in particular. Secondary education is the faster of primary education, therefore primary education is taken to be the rudiment of education from all indication, it appears that the rudiment of education is shaky and most pupils who move from the primary schools to the secondary schools are ill-equipped and less competent. In our generation today, many pupils who fall their common entrance examination would conveniently have assess into secondary school education without necessarily having the requirements for admission. This made us believe that the weakness in primary education has negative effects on secondary education.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The situation in teaching and learning process in secondary education nowadays has opened door for prolonged argument for people in teaching field. Educationalist and those outside the field to debate on declining standard of education. Education in Zamfara state, particularly in secondary schools have been plagued by a number of Muriel problems such as, lack of qualified teachers, lack of adequate instructional materials, lack of experienced teachers, poor performance of students in WAEC and NECO exams etc. All these issue have led to the decline of standard of education in secondary schools in Zamfara state. It is in recognition to the numerous problems faced by the secondary schools education in the state that this study embark upon in Maru local government area of Zamfara state in order to find out factors responsible for the declining standard of secondary education in Maru local government area.
1.3 Research Questions
The following research question are design to guide the conduct of the study.
- What causes the decline in the standard of performance in school certificate examination in Maru local government?
- Does teaching experience affect the standard of education in Maru local government
- Who are responsible for the decline in standard of education in Maru Local government area ?
- Does lack of instructional materials affect the declining standard of education in Maru local government area?
- Does teacher's qualification affect the declining standard of education in Maru local government area?
1.4 Objectives of the study
The main thrust of this study is to look into the factors responsible for the declining standard of secondary school education in Maru local government area.
The specific objectives of the study however, include the following:
- To find out what causes the decline in standard of performance in school certificate examination in Maru local government be determined.
- To examine how teaching experience affect the standard of education in Maru local government area.
- To find out those responsible for the decline in standard of education in Maru local government area.
- To find out whether lack of required teachers qualification affect the standard of education in Maru local government area.
- To find out whether lack of instructional materials affect the standard of education in Maru local government area.
1.5 Significance of the study
It is hoped that the result of this research will enable the general public to identify factors responsible for the decline in standard of secondary education in Maru local government area. It is also hope that, the study will assist educational planners, teachers, parents community and educational administrators to gain an insight into the problem at hand. It is also hoped the study will assist educational planners, teachers, and educational administrators to have an insight into the problem at hand.
1.6 Scope and delimitation
This study is supposed to cover the whole secondary schools in Maru Local Government, but due to financial constraints and time factors the researchers have limited the work to two schools.
The study focus on factors responsible for the declining standard in secondary school education with special reference to Maru local government. Attention will be given to poor performance of students in West African schools certificate examination.
1.7 Operational Definition of the Terms
Factor:
A circumstance contributing to a result
Responsible:
Having an obligation to do something and so able to be blamed or credited for it.
Decline:
Become smaller, fewer or less decrease or diminish in strength or quality, deteriorate.
Standard:
Any norm, convention or requirement.
Secondary:
Stage of education following primary education.
Education:
Is a term used to refer to knowledge, skills and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training or research.
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