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FAMILY SIZE, SELF EFFICACY AND STUDENTS PERFORMANCE IN BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

It is the case in recent times in Nigeria that the academic performance of students particularly in biology and chemistry have gone down drastically when compared with the years following the political independence of Nigeria in October 1st 1960. This much has been evidenced by the results year after year turned out by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). This trend did not originate at the level of WAEC, Rather it has been a product of the junior and senior secondary levels. This malady has even gone past the level of secondary school, and has eaten deep into our tertiary institutions, such that Professor Wole Soyinka asserted that the quality graduates produced by our education system are subject to re-examination.

Biology is described as a science of life and plays a very vital role in the life of every human being. It is very vast with many divisions including zoology, botany, ecology, genetics, morphology, anatomy physiology, histology, microbiology biochemistry, evolution and the more advanced cell biology, molecular biology among others. Apart from the inter-relatedness that exist among these branches, biology is closely related with other science subjects like agricultural science, chemistry, geography, mathematics and physics. Little wonder then that biology finds application in many specialised areas like medicine, pharmacy, food production and processing industries, biotechnology, genetic engineering, agriculture and horticulture, environmental protection, tourism industry and so on. Considering biology’s many branches and vast application in every field of human endeavour as enunciated above it importance in a nation’s economy development cannot be over emphasised.

Chemistry has been identified to be one of the important subjects needed for the sustenance and transformation of the national economy, and hence should be accorded adequate attention. Advancement in science and technology has created a greater demand for more people to study chemistry and this is particularly important in the realisation of Nigeria’s vision to become industrialised. Acquisition of appropriate scientific and technological skills is necessary to cope with the challenge presented by the evolving needs of the modern work place in the industries and the ever growing non formal sector. Education and training systems that responds adequately to these demands will therefore, contribute to the efforts to overcome the growing unemployment and marginalization of majority of the population. Providing access to appropriate learning experiences, designed to broaden skills and knowledge can increase productivity and significantly improve the fortunes of the unemployed, thereby reducing poverty and unemployment amongst the youth (Adesoji, 2008).

It is as a result of the recognition given to Chemistry in the development of the individual and the nation that it has been made a core pre-requisite subject for offering most science-oriented courses in the tertiary institutions and this calls for the need in teaching it effectively.

It is worth mentioning that the development of the students’ positive attitude is necessary because attitude is linked with academic achievement (Cheung, 2009). Similarly, a study conducted by Kelly (1998) concluded that the British students’ liking for a specific science subject were the actual predictor of their choice in school in various subjects like Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Therefore, all stakeholders should consider the development of positive attitude towards the chemistry subject as one of their central responsibilities (Cheung, 2009). In Nigeria, the students’ performance in chemistry and biology has persistently remained below average. This has been attributed partly to the negative attitudes adopted by the students towards the chemistry. This further underscores the importance of promoting positive attitudes towards Chemistry.

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