UNIZIK Journal of
Educational Research and Policy Studies

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA, NIGERIA
  • Abbreviation: UNIZIK J. Educ. Res. Pol. Stud.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2736-0296
  • DOI: 10.5897/UNIJERPS
  • Start Year: 2020
  • Published Articles: 17

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of gender on Basic Science students’ academic achievement in secondary schools in Enugu Education Zone, Enugu State, Nigeria

Ani I. Mercy
  • Ani I. Mercy
  • Department of Educational Foundations, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
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Obodo C. Abigail
  • Obodo C. Abigail
  • Department of Science Education Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu State, Nigeria.
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Ikwueze C. Chikodiri
  • Ikwueze C. Chikodiri
  • Department of Science Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
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Festus I. Tafi
  • Festus I. Tafi
  • Department of Science Education, Federal University of Agriculture, Markudi, Benue State, Nigeria.
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  •  Received: 06 August 2021
  •  Accepted: 06 October 2021
  •  Published: 31 October 2021

Abstract

Junior secondary schools’ achievement in Basic Science continues to fall below expectations, despite several interventions by multiple stakeholders. Hence, there is need to research more on gender effects on the delivery of Basic Science curricula content. This study, therefore, examined the effect of gender on Basic Science students’ academic achievement in secondary school. A pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent, control group, quasi experimental research design was adopted. Two intact classes of seventy-two (72) JSS 2 students (30 males and 42 females) were randomly selected from public secondary schools for the study State Nigeria. The selected classes were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. A 25-item validated instrument titled Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT) designed by the researchers was used for data collection. The reliability coefficient of the BSAT was 0.81 using Kuder-Richardson’s formula 20 (K-R 20). Data collected were analyzed using Means, Standard deviation and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).  The findings of the study revealed that gender (male/female) had no significant effect on students’ achievement in Basic Science and finally, result showed that there was significant interaction effect of treatment and gender on students’ academic performance in Basic Science. Therefore, it was recommended that students should be given equal opportunity and the same level of encouragement irrespective of their level and gender. 

Key words: Academic achievement, basic science, gender, secondary school.