Project – OVER POPULATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the Over population and its effects on teaching and learning in primary school. It is designed to identify the factors that contribute to the increase in pupils’ population, find out the pupils – teacher ratio in government primary schools and also the impact of the increase on the academic performance of pupils. A descriptive survey design was used, while the population of the study consists of government owned primary schools in Owerri educational zone. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the four (4) schools out of the nine (9) schools in the zone. A total of thirty (30) pupils and (10) teachers were randomly selected from four selected four schools. One Hundred and sixty (160) pupils, forty (40) per school were selected for the study. Both primary and primary sources of data were used to gather information for the study. The information obtained was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed that 97.3% of the respondents were of the opinion that there was shortage of infrastructural facilities due to overpopulation of classrooms. The analysis also indicated that overpopulation of classroom significantly influenced behavioural attitude of pupils to their studies. It also showed that overpopulation of classrooms significantly affect effective teaching and learning. The analysis further indicated that overpopulation of classroom negatively affected academic performance of pupils, being the major factor responsible for poor performance of pupils in public schools. The study concluded that overpopulation of classroom had significantly influence on pupil’s behavioural attitude of pupils to their studies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background to the Study

1.2    Statement of the problem

1.3    Research Questions

1.4    Objectives of the study

1.5    Research Hypothesis

1.6    Significance of the study

1.7    Scope of the study

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW  

2.1    The Concept of Environment in Education

2.2    The Concept Of Over Population

2.3    Importance of Infrastructural and Instructional Materials in Teaching and Learning

2.4    School Mapping and Facilities in Nigeria

2.5    Effects of Overpopulation on Academic Performance

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1    Research Design

3.2    Target Population

3.3    Sample and Sampling

3.4    Instrumentation

3.5    Validity

3.6    Administration of Research Instrument

3.7    Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS: RESULT AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 

4.1 Result

4.2    Testing of Hypothesis

4.3    Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1   Summary of findings

5.2    Conclusion

5.3    Recommendations

References

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, as at 2004, the population of Nigeria primary schools stood at one hundred and eighteen thousand, two hundred (118200) primary schools while that of Imo state showed a total number of two hundred and five (205). Owerri Municipal council had about seven (7) primary schools, with a population of Seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615) pupils. This figure when compared with that of 1999 which was inclusive according to Federal Ministry of Education was very high because during that period, it was so in order to attract Federal Government attention.

The present Nigerian population of primary schools going by the above number is almost twenty one thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight (21828) primary schools, with Imo state having three hundred and twelve (312) primary schools and Owerri Municipal 9 government primary schools.

According to the statistics department, Primary Education Management Board (SEMB), there has been a rapid increase in the population of pupils in Owerri Education zone from seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615) pupils to ten thousand, five hundred and seventy (10570) pupils. There is a constant increase in the population of primary schools which runs contrary to the new encyclopedia Britannica, volume (A) assertion. Unlike population of insects, population rarely has been subject to explosive or collapsing numbers.

Overpopulation refers to a situation where the total number of people in an area exceeds the available resources. Overpopulation can also be defined as deficiency in resources development in relation to the available people Osuji (2008). This means existing resources can not march the immediate population number.

Evidence has shown that the population of pupils in urban schools is on the increase. The steady areas to enjoy recreational facilities, which keeps them busy after studying is one of the factors that contributes to overpopulation of primary schools in urban areas.

Under population of primary school in Nigeria has had a negative impact in the Nigeria educational sector, and the output is devastating in terms of loss of standard and its attendant results.

This situation of over population could be speculated to be speculated to be responsible for the untold hardship, corruption, social disorder, poor standard of living, crime etcetera. In this, there will be lower standard of education, inadequate instructional materials, production of poor or a few quality text books, congested classrooms and attendant education in characters (dropout as a product of the so called schools).

1.2    Statement of the problem

Over the years, there has been an increase in the population of pupils in urban primary schools. This has been consistent, without the attendant increase in facilities, teachers and infrastructure, etcetera. With the decline in the quality of education and output, it therefore becomes imperative to find out whether the increase in population of pupils’ directly affect their academic performance and identify the causes of increase in population of pupils in government primary schools in Owerri educational zone and what could be done to remedy the situation.

1.3 Research Questions

This research shall attempt to address the following questions.

• What are the factors responsible for over-crowding of the public school classroom?
• Is there any relationship between overpopulation of the classroom, pupils attitude and behaviour?
• Has overpopulation any effect on teaching and learning?
• Has overpopulation any significant effect on academic achievement of pupils in government primary schools?
• Is there any relationship between overpopulation of classroom and the general standard of education?

1.4 Objectives of the study

• To examine the factors responsible for over-crowding of the public school classroom.
• To assess the relationship between overpopulation of the classroom, pupils attitude and behavior.
• To examine the effect of overpopulation on teaching and learning.
• To examine the significant effect of academic achievement on pupils in government primary schools.
• To establish the relationship between overpopulation of classroom and the general standard of education.

1.5       Research Hypothesis

To achieve the objectives this research shall be guided by the following underlisted assumptions.

Hi1:   High birth rate and shortage of infrastructural facilities are responsible for  overpopulation of classrooms.

Ho1: High birth rate and shortage of infrastructure are not responsible for overpopulation in the classrooms.

Hi2: Overpopulation of classrooms significantly influence behavioural attitudes  of pupils.

Ho2: Overpopulation of classrooms has no significant influence on the behavioral attitude of pupils.

Hi3: Overpopulation of classrooms significantly affects effective teaching and  learning.

Ho3: Overpopulation of classroom has no significant effect on teaching and learning.

Hi4: Overpopulation significantly affects academic performance of pupils.

Ho4: Overpopulation has no significant relationship with academic performance  of pupils.

Hi5: Overpopulation in public schools is responsible for the decline in the standard of education.

Ho5: Overpopulation has no significant relationship with decline standard of education.

1.6    Significance of the study

This study will be of immense benefit to pupils, teachers, educational planners, government and society at large. For the pupils, it will motivate and increase their willingness to attend school and help improve their performance in school. To the teachers, it will help improve abilities of the teacher to manage the classroom efficiently because reduction in the number of pupils encourages teacher – pupils’ relationship and leads to effective and efficient academic performance. To the education planners, it will be a guiding material to enable them check the population of pupils in relation to the available schools to accommodate them. To the government, it will serve as a guide to identify the need to improve the infrastructure available for teaching and learning. The study will be of great significance to the society at large as it will help produce qualified citizens that will contribute positively to the growth of the society and it will also serve as a resource and reference material to future pupils.

1.7    Scope of the study

The study is carried out on the Over population and its effects on teaching and learning in primary school. This study is therefore delimited to government primary schools in Owerri, Imo state.

 

Project – OVER POPULATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL