Analyzing the Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Students' Retention Ability in Selected Science Subjects

Abstract

This research was aimed at determining the retention ability of students in science subjects in secondary schools during the COVID-19 lockdown. Three hypotheses were tested. Descriptive research design was used in this study. The population of the study comprised senior secondary school mathematics students in SS 3 in some selected secondary schools in Delta and Lagos States. The sample used for this study was 125 science students from selected secondary schools, who were willing to take part in the study. The instrument used for this study is the Science Retention Test (SRT). Data obtained were analyzed using SPPS version 25. The Bayesian Statistics was used to test the hypotheses stated for the study. Results obtained showed that the mean and standard deviation of student scores in mathematics, biology and chemistry before the COVID-19 lockdown was 69.50±17.40, while at resumption, their mean and standard deviation score stood at 53.29±17.46, with Bayes value of 4.0, which indicated that the student's scores before COVID-19 lockdown were higher than their retention scores and significantly differed. There was however no significant difference in the retention scores of male and female students in the study area. The mean and standard deviation of the retention score for private school students was 55.4±11.38, while that of the public school students was 51.93±20.41, with Bayes Factor of 4.03 approximately 4.0, which indicated a moderate evidence for the null hypothesis, which stated that there was no significant difference in the retention score of students from public and private secondary schools. Although the lockdown was inevitable, it is recommended that measures be taken to remedy the situation by providing necessary internet devices for the students, so that those from less financially capable homes will be afforded the opportunity to study online in order to help in their retention ability.