INFLUENCE OF STUDENT’S INTEREST ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PHYSICS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN GWALE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE

ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of student‟s interest on their academic achievement in Physics among Senior Secondary School in Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Three research questions guided the study; to determine the impact of students‟ interest on their academic achievement in Physics in Senior Secondary Schools, determine the influence of gender on students‟ interest and their academic achievement in Physics in Senior Secondary Schools and find out the factors that affect students‟ interest and their academic achievement in Physics in Senior Secondary Schools. Descriptive survey research design was adopted with 1,440 SS II students across the selected Secondary Schools as population and 302 sample size of the study. Questionnaire for the Influence of Students‟ Interest on Academic Achievement in Physics (QISIAAP) was adopted questionnaire containing 20 items. It was validated by the experts from Science and Technology Education Department, Bayero University, Kano. Frequency and percentage was used to analyze the research questions. The findings of the study revealed that, there is positive impact of students‟ interest on their academic achievement in Physics because, their high concentration span makes them perform better in studying the concepts, it enhance their ability to perform academically and spends more time studying, improve their academic achievement in Senior Secondary Schools, that, there is gender influence on students‟ interest and their academic achievement in Physics in Senior Secondary Schools; because, males tend to dominate class while females are always shy and may prefer working in groups or under male counterparts, male students were superior and achieved academically better than the female students and that, female students show higher anxiety towards learning than male students Schools. The study concluded that, factors such as lack of funding, poor methods of teaching, anxiety about learning Physics, inadequate supply of Physics equipment, inadequate teachers‟ preparation affects students‟ interest and their academic achievement in Physics in Senior Secondary Schools. Based on the study findings, the following recommendations were made, that the teachers should encourage students to develop interest in Physics teaching and learning activities by engaging them in practical and providing instructional materials that would challenge them to be actively involved during Physics lessons in Senior Secondary School and Kano State Ministry of Education and professional organization like STAN should organize workshops, seminars and conferences for Physics teachers in Senior Secondary School Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State.