ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF SCHOOL LOCATION ON STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the study

The establishment of Universal Primary Education in the 1970s, followed by the Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP) in 2002, resulted in a fast growth of secondary schools in Nigeria. As a result of the growth of primary education (PE), a demand for post-PE has arisen, necessitating a sufficient supply of instructors and a suitable learning environment in schools as an added incentive to finish primary school. In certain Nigerian locations, secondary school site was not given previous critical thought in order to satisfy the requirement for access and completion of education. antonio joseph (2015). The establishment of schools did not take into account aspects that may contribute to high-quality education and enhanced academic achievement, such as learners' and instructors' travel distances to and from their schools. Expanding enrollment by building more schools closer to people has been a significant step toward universalizing education since all eligible children would be able to attend school and participate in all of the scheduled activities. Secondary schools are located all across the world, far from the homes of the pupils. As a consequence, school children, especially females, have been negatively affected by the greater walking or transport distance from home to school/college. Furthermore, a study on the impact of travel distance on the quality of education among students in community schools found that the majority of pupils came late, weary, and uninterested in learning, resulting in low academic achievement. Quality access Education is necessary for the creation of an engaged workforce that will contribute to socioeconomic progress.Involvement of educational stakeholders is deemed acceptable in achieving a high-quality workforce. In this respect, the engagement of stakeholders (local development activists and policymakers) in enhancing the quality of the learning environment, including the school's location, has a significant impact on secondary school students' academic performance.

1.2  Statement of research problem

Several initiatives have been put in place to guarantee that students get high-quality learning outcomes. However, the performance of several community schools in Akwanga local government community schools in the National Examinations has remained poor. This generated some concerns about their low performance in relation to their geographic location, prompting this investigation. Investigation was judged necessary because, without it, schools would continue to operate in the same manner, with no progress in student performance, compromising national efforts to produce trained and competent people.

1.3 Objectives of the study

The primary objective of the study is as follows:

l  To investigate the extent to which school location affects the academic achievement of  school students in Nigeria

l  To find out factors that determined location of community  schools in Nigeria

l  To determine conditions used to allocate pupils to  schools, and  Appropriate strategies to improve secondary school students` performance

1.3  Research questions

1.        does school location affect academic performance of  school student in Nigeria?

2.        Are there factors that determine location of community  school in Nigeria?

3.        Do you think the conditions used to allocate student to  school is right?

4.        Do you think there can be an improvement in  school student performance

1.4  Significance of the study

This study provides information to planners, policy makers, teachers, parents ,

community members and academia about the importance of appropriate location of the community  schools on learners‘ academic performance. Therefore, findings are

appropriate in future planning and practice in building new secondary schools on

proper strategies to institute better learning environment. Further, as long as school

location was likely to affect academic performance of the learners, the findings open

new avenues for future studies in different community secondary schools

1.5  Scope of the study

This study intends to assess the effect of school location on students educational performance. Hence ,this study is delimited to few secondary school in Akwanga local government area in Nassarawa state.

1.6  Limitations of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 Financial constraint is inevitable considering the present economic situations. Due to lack of finance at the researchers disposal to get materials and in printing of questionnaires. it was not possible to visit some of the communities that have been plagued by bandit activities.

 In developing countries like Nigeria, there is the problem of insufficient data.

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher   

1.7  Operational definition of terms

Assess: evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of.

Effect: a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

School location: this refers to the community in which the school is located,

Students:  a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.

Educational:  relating to the provision of education.

Performance:  an act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.