Assessment of the relationship between reinforcement of teachers and attitude to work

CHAPTER ONE/INTRODUCTION

This study focuses on the accessibility and motivational aspects that contribute to teenagers’ continued drug use. One of the causes behind the rise in drug usage in recent decades is the accessibility or availability of substances. When asked whether they had ever been offered, sold, or provided illicit substances on school grounds, 22% of students in grades 9 through 12 responded positively, according to a study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics from 2007 Horvath et al (2019).

One of the main issues with young people is the ease of access to narcotics. Reasonably, the likelihood that someone may use drugs and get addicted to them increases when drugs are easily accessible. Therefore, the availability of medications is a problem that has to be addressed right once so that steps may be taken to reduce or eliminate any side effects. It seems that drug abuse, rather than just drug usage, is what causes issues. In other words, the prevalence of drug use has made it important to consider the effects of this process on social institutions and social charge in future generations in addition to focusing our attention on the dynamics of drug use and its drivers.

According to Laver (2019), drug abuse is simply the incorrect use of substances to the point that the effects are harmful to the person or society as a whole. The World Health Organization (WHO (2006) further defined drug abuse as a “state” of recurrent or chronic intoxication caused by drug use, which is harmful to both the person and society (natural or synthetic).

Drug abuse patterns include all facet of young people’s substance use, including quantity, frequency, kind of drug used, who they use them with, where they use them, when they use them, and other factors. Because of the factors involved in their analysis, the analysis of contemporary social problems has repeatedly shown to be more and more contentious, with the prevalence of drug abuse being of the utmost concern to the abuser himself, his family, the government, and the entire society in which he lives.

The administration seems to have suffered a great deal of humiliation as a result of this incident, particularly the harm done to Nigerians’ reputation overseas. It is apparent that Nigerians flying to the United States of America and, in fact, the whole continent of Europe, are subjected to more extensive and humiliating inspections by customs officers. According to them, the reason for this form of demeaning and humiliating interrogation of Nigerians is that they want to clamp down on smugglers, of whom Nigerians are the main suspects because of the aggressive drug trafficking posture shown by certain selfish Nigerians.

Furthermore, Nigerian societies have designated some drugs as acceptable while designating others as not acceptable without taking into account how the drugs affect the users’ physical and mental health. For instance, society views alcohol and nicotine use as acceptable, so those who use them do so openly in public without worrying about being arrested or receiving negative social stigma.

To the society as a whole, drug misuse is a factor in crime, promiscuity, armed robberies, and other vices. Since ancient times, people have used the naturally occurring chemical that alters consciousness. Man has attempted for ages to either laud some lovelythe use of fermented alcohol and other plant products as aspects of life or a means of escaping the misery of life, whether real or imagined (Vanguard, 2016).

Youth drug usage and substance misuse is a growing problem that has sparked public concern. There are several social and economic elements that might contribute to this. The majority of drug and substance abusers are discovered to be young people. Additionally, there is virtually little chance that drug-using adolescents will get special care. It is highly possible that there are thousands of individuals who are addicted to the narcotics moving through Nigeria, which has an estimated total population of 200 million (NBS. 2018), who are not getting any kind of therapy.

There isn’t much information available on the number of drug users in Nigeria. Only 925 individuals got treatment, according to a United Nations study from 2004—the most current data available. Nearly 90% of these drug users in drug treatment programs received assistance for their cannabis addiction (Narconon, 2018). The availability of drugs in the adolescent’s neighborhood, town, and school as well as whether or not their friends are using them are just a few of the many variables that affect whether they try drugs (NIDA, 2014).Although it is recognized that the adolescent years are a crucial window of susceptibility to drug use disorders because the brain is still growing and flexible (a quality known as neuroplasticity), and certain brain regions are less developed than others,

than others, more mature. The earliest areas of the brain to develop throughout infancy are those that handle sensations of reward and pain, which are important factors in drug addiction (NIDA, 2014). From the teenage years, there is a progression to the adolescent stage, where adolescents prefer an autonomous and independent life that is unrestrained by adults and engage in a variety of delinquent acts (drug abuse, rape, robbery, cultism, and vandalism) that are hazardous to the family, neighborhood, school, and country. Description of the issue

In the modern day, drug misuse in Nigeria has developed into a problem that casts a dismal shadow over the whole Nigerian society, particularly among youth. Under the military dictatorship, drug trafficking in Nigeria reached its peak in 1985. Under the “Special Tribunal (Miscellaneous Offences) Degree No. 20 of 1984,” it was mostly young people who were apprehended and the first to be put to death for drug offenses at this time. However, since a foreign phenomena is distorting its importance, drug usage is not only a problem among young people.

However, drug use—by either youths or other members of the greater society—appears to be a societal issue in all of its manifestations. This issue is widespread and has an impact on everyone. In other words, the widespread use and misuse of drugs attracts individuals from all walks of life. In addition to the human suffering brought on by drug addiction, traditional values and ways of life are also harmed. Research has also proven that drug usage damages society as a whole by destroying individuals, destroying families, and increasing crime and anarchy.

Drug use also seems to hinder young people’s capacity for learning. Additionally, it seems that drugs go against our beliefs of physical health. Drug usage is prevalent because it seems like it would provide happiness. However, since contentment is often elusive, people tend to drink more and larger amounts, which leads to eventual physical and mental decline. The drug user also has social interaction issues, which he experiences both with his immediate family and outside of them. As a result, tension is usually generated in the drug user’s family (Hoffman, 1990).

Additionally, drug misuse may lead to a variety of social issues, such as being late for class, failing to take care of one’s family, acting out, getting into trouble, etc (Earl 2000). The more money needed to address the negative consequences of drug usage, the less money is available for services and programs that improve quality of life (Earl 2000).
The fact that our security organizations, including the police force and national drug law enforcement agencies, among others, have not done enough to combat this epidemic is one of the elements working against the elimination of drug usage among our youth. The issue of corruption among the personnel and officials of these aforementioned institutions also works against the goal of ending drug consumption among young people and college students.

 

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CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

The relationship between class size and academic performance has been a perplexing one for educators. Studies have found that the physical environment, ethnicity, socioeconomics, overcrowding and teaching methods are all variables that affect student achievement (Molnar, 2000). Other factors that affect student achievement are school population and class size (Gentry, 2000; Swift, 2000; Krueger and White Moore, 2007).

The issue of poor academic performance of students in Nigeria has been of much concern to all and sundry. The problem is so much that it adds to the widely acclaimed fallen standard of education in Lagos state and Nigeria at large. In order to better understand the skill levels of students, it might be necessary to evaluate factors affecting their performance. These include: school structure and organization, teachers’ quality, curriculum and teaching philosophy (Driscoll, Halcoussis and Svomy, 2008).

Overtime, students’ academic performance in both internal and external examinations had been used to determine excellence in teachers and teaching (Ajao, 2001). As school grows, they typically become more bureaucratic, resulting in more formalized human relations and increased curricular specialization. Another stand, typically conducted by economist directs attention to the potential for increased efficiency and cost reductions as schools get bigger. Conclusions from these two streams are not consistent. Although, the studies with an organizational focus generally favour smaller schools, research with an economic focus tends to suggest benefits from increased size.

Overpopulation classrooms have increased the possibilities for at risk students, as well as others, to lose interest in school and do poorly on test. There identifies for specific problems regarding overcrowding, students not getting individual attention, low reading scores, frustration and stress felt by the teachers and the inability of students to concentrate or stay on task while in class. The problem identified can be that teachers are unable to give individual attention to students. Teachers’ aides are not always available and sometimes students have to share textbooks. It can take the entire class time for students to find seats, make sure everyone has a textbooks to look at and then explain the next assignment. This leaves no time for individual attention to explain assignment and answer questions. Thus, with teacher unable to help individual students, those who need extra help in gaining or maintaining their reading skills get left behind. They are unable to keep up the reading or in class discussions because of many students in one class.

Overpopulation in schools and classes is a serious problem in many schools systems, particularly in the inner cities where space for new construction is limited. As a result, students find themselves trying to learn while jammed into spaces never intended as classrooms, such as libraries, gymnasiums, laboratories, lunch rooms and even closets. Although, research on the relationship between overcrowding and student leaving had been limited, there are some evidence particularly in high poverty schools, that overcrowding can have adverse impact on learning. A study of overpopulation in schools found that students in such schools score significantly lower on both mathematics and reading exams then did similar students in underutilized schools. In addition, when asked, students and teachers in overpopulation schools agreed that overcrowding negatively affects both classroom activities and instructional technologies (Krueger and Whiteman, 2001).

Crowded classroom conditions not only make it difficult for students to concentrate on their lessons, but inevitably limit the amount of times teachers can spend on innovative teaching methods such as cooperative learning and group work or on teaching anything beyond the barest minimum of required materials. In addition, because teachers must constantly struggle simply to maintain order in an overpopulated classroom, the likelihood increase that they will suffer from burn out earlier than might otherwise be the case.

Although, there is a significantly amount of research analyzing students’ performance (Matuga, 2009; CerezoRUssillo and Casanova Arias, 2004), there is still a need for more concentrate test results. It is necessary to define the effects of environmental, psychological and sociological elements. This clarity will better enable school to provide a quality learning institution – organized and established public domain, with a sphere of knowledge influence and activity (Meram-Webster Dictionary).

The idea that school population and class size might affect students’ performance is consistence with the growing literature on the relationship between public sector institutional arrangements and outcome. The purpose of this study is to further examine the relationship of class size, school population and student academic achievement.

Statement of the Problem

In recent times, performance of Secondary School students according to report made by office of the statistics SSCE, calls for proper investigation of courses of poor performance of students. Probably the high level of students enrolment without adequate provision of corresponding learning facilities in our schools. The

 

National Policy on Education (NPE, 2014) stipulates that a normal class size should be forty(40) students per class for effective teaching and learning. However, prevailing conditions in most secondary schools today is that a single classroom has a population of about 80 or more students, yet the same class to teach the class-size of 40 students are also being used in teaching the class-size of 80 students. It would be expected therefore, that the increase in students enrolment would create problems for teachers and effective classroom management. This could be the major reason responsible for the decline of students performance in History since population explosion directly affects effective teaching learning procedure.

Although, several scholars have proposed various factors responsible for the poor performance of students, only a little research has been dedicated to the correlation between class-size population and academic performance.

The high rate of failure in public examination is  a proof that the education sector is ailing and requires urgent attention. In an attempt to find out the cause of this mass failure, several factors have been identified to be responsible for this situation. One of such factors is the high teacher-students ratio. It has been observed that some schools record book contain eighty or more students in a class. This  problem  is  particularly severe in Giwa educational zone. The objectives of secondary school education is to produce high quality students who should be able to face  the challenges of the society  and prepare them for higher education. Today, History students  are  faced  with large class sizes which lead to ineffective teaching and learning of social studies. It also leads to students not being able to understand the subject  in the correct way. This results  in the decline of students academic performance. Hence, this study is aimed at evaluating

 

the effects of class size in effective teaching and learning of history in secondary school with the view of providing remedial strategies to improve the situation.

Objectives of the Study

 

The major objective of the study is to investigate effects of class size in effective teaching and learning of history in secondary school More specifically the objectives of the study are:

1. to find out the effects of class size on academic performance scores of SSCE History Students.
2. to find out the effects of class size on academic performance scores of male and female SSCE History students.
3. to find out the effects of class size on academic performance scores of rural and urban SSCE History students.

Research Questions

 

The following research questions guided the study:

 

1. what is the effect of class size on academic performance scores of SSCE History students?
2. what is the effects of class size on academic performance scores of male and female SSCE History students?
3. what is the effects of class size on academic performance scores of rural and urban SSCE History students?

 

Null Hypotheses

 

Based on the research questions raised above, the following research hypotheses have been formulated to guide the researcher in the study.

H0₁:     there is no significant effects in the academic performance scores of SSCE History students based on congested and incongested classroom.

H0₂: there is no significant effects in the academic performance  scores  of male  and female SSCE History students based on congested and incongested classroom.

H0₃:     there is no significant effects in the academic performance scores of urban and rural SSCE History students based on congested and incongested classroom.

Significance of the Study

 

The study of the effects of class size on History students academic performance in Senior secondary schools is significant in a number of ways. Some  of these are outlined below.

Firstly, the study provides valid research based on the data that brings about improvement in the educational programme. It is difficult to ascertain if the educational programme is doing what it is supposed to do when it  has not been formally evaluated as  it relate to the current large class sizes. Secondly, the research findings are significant to stakeholders in education like: Government and policy makers. They will find  the findings of this study useful as it will assist them to identify, analyse and interpret the negative consequences of large class population on students academic performance in the study area and beyond. This will help in providing the much needed data for planning and evaluation purposes which by looking at the situation to improve special consideration.

 

To the UBEC and SUBEBS, the study will assist them in the area of providing necessary information about students on small class benefit to enable them refine the various level of educational programmes and reposition them for greater efficiency thereby producing students that will be toast of the society.

This study is significant to curriculum planners and developers who want to evaluate and modify the SSS curriculum, making it progressive for the development of learners in the aspect of cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains.  Also, teachers and students can benefit from the findings of the study as it will provide a good guide for effective classroom management. The research also aids in stimulating cordial teacher/student relationship and enhances the teaching/learning process. In addition, this study will serve as a necessary impetus to principals and school administrators to organize workshop, seminars and symposia on the effects of class size on students academic performance in the Senior Secondary Schools. Furthermore, the study serve as a background for other researchers to identify areas for further studies the relationship between class size and students improvement at various levels of educational programme particularly in secondary schools.

Scope of the Study

 

This study is limited to senior secondary school student  in Giwa Educational Zone Kaduna State, the Zone has twenty six (26) Senior secondary schools

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