IMPACT OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ON THE STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KATSINA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT The study investigated the impact of learning environment on students‘ academic performance in public secondary schools in Katsina metropolis, Katsina State, Nigeria. The study was carried out to: Determine the impact of learning environment on students‘ academic performance in public secondary schools in Katsina metropolis, Ascertain the impact of class size on the student’s academic performance in public secondary schools in Katsina metropolis, Examine the impact of learning materials on students‘ academic performance in public secondary schools in Katsina metropolis, Find out the impact of school plant on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Katsina metropolis. In line with the above stated objectives, four (4) corresponding research questions and four (4) hypotheses were formulated and tested for the study. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The total population of the study comprised 12,894 students, out of which a sample size of 370 respondents was used for the study. The instrument tagged Learning Environment and Students‘ Performance Questionnaire (LESPQ) and students‘ End of term examination scores were used to obtain data for the study. The instrument was pilot-tested and a reliability coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. Data collected were analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics which include mean and standard deviation, while inferential statistics of t-test was used to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed among others that learning environment have impact on students‘ performance in public secondary schools in Katsina State and class size have impact on performance of students in public secondary schools in Katsina metropolis. In view of the findings from this study, conclusion was made that unconducive learning environment has negative impact on students‘ academic performance. In addition, a good school location with accessible road, good field of play, neat toilet and large classroom with lighting and library stocked with up-to-date textbooks have positive impact on students‘ performance. Recommendations were made among others that Katsina State government should make secondary schools in the state more conducive for learning by providing facilities such as up to date text books, teaching aid, good playing field, resource person and neat toilet. Adequate classrooms should be provided with chairs and desks to correspond with the yearly increase of students‘ enrolment.