Classroom Process and Causes of Worsening High School Students' Failure of Literature-in-English in Nigeria

Abstract

Current theories of teaching favour students-centred classrooms. In Literature-in-English lessons, active participation of students is essential for optimal learning. This study examined the level of students' active participation in Literature-in-English classrooms as the major reason for the high failure rates of Nigerian students who take this subject in the yearly senior secondary school examinations. The study was carried out in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State. The mixed method research design was adopted. Class Observation Schedule (r=0.9) and Interview Guide for Teachers were used to gather the data. Random sampling technique was used to select three Local Government Areas (LGAs), 27 public senior secondary schools (9 from each LGA) and one Literature-in-English teacher from each school. All the teachers were observed twice during lessons while 12 of them were interviewed. Results from the quantitative data showed that the classroom process was teacher-dominated, and students' level of participation was very low. Students hardly asked questions and teachers did not use teaching techniques that encouraged active participation. Teachers identified students' inability to buy the prescribed literary texts, lack of interest in reading and poor language proficiency as some of the factors that contribute to students' failure. Several recommendations were made to enhance the teaching-learning process and maximize learning.