Exploring how location and gender influence the performance of students in physics (a case study of Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State Nigeria)

Abstract

This study explored how location and gender influence the performance of students in Physics in Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. The sample consisted of four schools randomly selected from the co-educational schools in the public schools. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observation, focus group interviews of the students and documents obtained from the school principals on students’ academic performance in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) from 2011-2015. The validity and the reliability of all these instruments were established. The data obtained through interviews were interpreted qualitatively. The documents obtained from the selected schools were also analyzed. The results of the study revealed that the urban students perform better in Physics than the rural students. The study also revealed that the gender of the students affects their performance in Physics with male students performing better than female students. Frantic efforts should be made to ensure conducive learning environment and equivalent learning opportunities to both male and female students.

Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe plek en geslag die prestasie van studente in Fisika in die Akure Suid-plaaslike regering, Ondo-staat, Nigerië, beïnvloed. Die steekproef het bestaan uit vier skole wat lukraak gekies is uit die mede-opvoedkundige skole in die openbare skole. Data is ingesamel deur onderhoude, klaskamerwaarnemings, fokusgroeponderhoude van die studente en dokumente wat van die skoolhoofde verkry is oor studente se akademiese prestasie in die Wes-Afrikaanse Senior Sekondêre Sertifikaat-eksamen (WASSCE) vanaf 2011-2015. Die geldigheid en betroubaarheid van al hierdie instrumente is vasgestel. Die data wat deur onderhoude verkry is, is kwalitatief geïnterpreteer. Die dokumente wat van die geselekteerde skole verkry is, is ook ontleed. Die resultate van die studie het getoon dat die stedelike studente beter in Fisika verrig as die landelike studente. Die studie het ook onthul dat die geslag van die studente hul prestasie in Fisika beïnvloed, met manlike studente wat beter presteer as vroulike studente. Vreemde pogings moet aangewend word om bevorderlike leeromgewing en gelykwaardige leergeleenthede vir beide manlike en vroulike studente te verseker.

Lolu cwaningo luhlolisise ukuthi indawo kanye nobulili bathonya kanjani ukusebenza kwabafundi e-Physics e-Akure South Local Government, e-Ondo State, eNigeria. Isampula lalinabashumayeli izikole ezine ngezikhathi ezikhethiwe kusukela izikole co-ezemfundo ezikoleni zikahulumeni. Idatha abangu eziqoqiwe ngokusebenzisa izingxoxo, ekilasini observation, izingxoxo somnqopho sokufundisa isiqhema lwabafundi futhi imibhalo etholakala othishanhloko esikoleni ekusebenzeni abafundi 'academic eNtshonalanga Afrika Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) kusuka 2011 kuya ku-2015. De geldigheid en de betrouwbaarheid van alle deze instrumenten efen-widegesteldeld. Imibuzo yezintambo ze-data verkregen yesikhala esiphezulu se-geïnterpreteerd. De dokumenter fra de udvalgte skoler blev også analysisret. Imiphumela cwaningo lwembula ukuthi abafundi ezisemadolobheni basebente kancono Physics ngaphandle abafundi basezindaweni zasemakhaya. Lolu cwaningo lwembula nokuthi ubulili abafundi Ithinta hun ukusebenza Physics ne abafundi besilisa kokwenza Ukuze ungcono abafundi besilisa nabesifazane. Imizamo eqondile kufanele kwenziwe ukuze kuqinisekiswe imvelo yokufunda kanye namathuba okufunda okulinganayo kokubili abafundi besilisa nabesifazane