ABSTRACT

This study analysed a five years 2010-2014 comparative study of physic students’ academic achievement in West African Examination Council in Ogoja Local Government Area. Literature review was carried out based on the sub-variables. The attempt was to highlight their achievement levels in West African Examination Council, the following hypotheses were formulated for testing; there is no significant difference between students’ physics achievement in public and private senior secondary schools West African Examination Council from 2010-2014, Male students physics achievement does not differ significantly in public and private schools West African Examination Council from 2010-2014, There is no significant difference between female students’ physics achievement in public and private schools West African Examination Council from 2010-2014. These four variables reflected the four hypotheses propound for the study. The study adopted the survey design technique used to sample 200 respondents (100 from public and 100 from private) out of 2,500 SS1 students in all the schools in Ogoja Local Government Area. Data was collected with the aid of the questionnaire, while secondary data on students scores in Physics were obtained from the schools’ records. Data was analysed with the aid of independent t-test at 0.05 significant level. The findings shows that significant differences exist in the academic achievement of private and public schools students in physics. Those in the private schools are better in West African Examination Council than public schools. Significant difference also exist between male and female students achievement, with male performing better. Finally, differences also exist in achievement in other subjects and physics, with the former better off on the basis of these findings, it was recommended amongst others that common curriculum in physics should be adopted in both public and private schools.         

TABLE OF CONTENT

PAGES 

Certification - - - - - - - i

Dedication - - - - - - - ii

Acknowledgements - - - - - - iii

Abstract - - - - - - - - iv

Table of contentS - - - - - - v

List of tables - - - - - - - vii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study - - - - 1

1.2 Theoretical framework - - - - 6

1.3 Statement of problem - - - - - 10

1.4 Purpose of the study - - - - - 11

1.5 Research questions - - - - - 12

1.6 Hypotheses - - - - - - 13

1.7 Research assumptions - - - - - 14

1.8 Significance of the study - - - - 14

1.9 Scope of the study - - - - - 16

1.10 Conceptual definition of terms - - - 17

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1 Concept of physics - - - - - 18

2.2 School ownership and student achievement - 24

2.3 School ownership and male students’ achievement- 27

2.4 School ownership and female students’ achievement- 32

2.5 Students gender and achievement - - - 38

2.6 Summary of Literature Review - - - 42

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design - - - - - - 43

3.2 Research Area - - - - - - 44

3.3 Population of the study - - - - - 46

3.4 Sampling technique - - - - - 46

3.5 The sample - - - - - - - 47

3.6 Instrumentation - - - - - - 47

3.7 Validation of instrument - - - - 48

3.8 Procedure for date collection - - - 49

3.9 Procedure for date analysis - - - - 49

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Hypothesis-by-hypothesis interpretation of results 54

4.2 Summary of findings - - - - - 61

4.3 Discussion of findings - - - - - 62

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of the study - - - - - 71

5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - 73

5.3 Recommendations - - - - - 76

5.4 Suggestion for further research - - - 79

References - - - - - - - 80

Appendix - - - - - - - 83