Causes of Secondary School Students' Poor Performance in Arabic Aspect of Islamic Studies in Kwara South

Abstract

Students and teachers of Islamic Studies that are deficient in Arabic language but depend solely on their competence in English language to study and teach Islamic Studies may find it difficult. In view of this problem, there is the need to look into how students and teachers of Islamic Studies cope with this situation. This study examined causes of students' poor performance in Arabic aspects of Islamic Studies in senior secondary schools in Kwara South Senatorial District, Nigeria by correlating the level of relationship among competence level of Islamic studies teachers in Arabic language, Islamic studies students background knowledge of Arabic language, availability of relevant Islamic Studies textbook, and academic performance of Islamic Studies students. Thirty (30) school administrators, forty (40) Islamic Studies teachers and one hundred and fifty (150) Islamic Studies students were randomly selected from the senior secondary schools from each of the four sampled local Government Areas, which gave a total number of eight hundred and eighty respondents. Meanwhile, the simple random sampling technique was used because it allowed the researcher to give every local government area equal opportunity of being selected after knowing the exact size of their numbers; the required sample size was then selected using the table of random number. A researcher-designed questionnaire was used to collect relevant information from the respondents. Three research hypotheses were formulated for the study and data collected were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Statistical Techniques at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between competence level of Islamic Studies teachers in Arabic language and academic performance of Islamic Studies students. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that teachers of Islamic Studies that are deficient in Arabic language should endeavour to undergo in-service training in Arabic language so that the objectives of teaching and learning of Islamic Studies could be achieved.