Socio – Economic Background and Academic Performance of Biology Student Amongst Public Secondary Schools in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

This study examined socio –economic background and academic performance of biology student amongst public secondary schools in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The independent variables examine were; parental income, family size, parental occupation, parental education background while dependent variable is students’ academic performance in Biology. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions and four research hypotheses were posed and formulated respectively to guide the study. Literature was reviewed based on the variables in the study. The research design was adopted for this study was survey research design. One hundred fifty (150) SS2 students who offered Biology in public secondary schools were randomly selected for this study. The instrument used for data collection was a 24-item questionnaire named socio –economic background and academic performance of biology students Questionnaire (SCBABSQ) constructed by the researcher. Independent t-test statistic was used as statistical tool for data analysis. Each of the hypotheses was tested at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there was significant influence of parental income, family size, parental occupation, parental education background on the academic performance of SS 11 students in Biology in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that Parents of low socio-economic status should be empowered to enable them provide for basic needs for their children. Thus, enhances their academic performance in Biology. Suggestion for further research was also made.