Family Variables and Biology Teaching in Secondary Schools

    Family Variables and Biology Teaching in Secondary Schools

     ABSTRACT

     This research study was designed by the need to examine the Relationship between FAMILY variables and Biology Teaching in Secondary Schools in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. To guide the study, research questions were formulated. Ten public secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area were used for the study. The population of the study comprised of twenty (20) Biology teachers from the schools under the study. The research instrument used for this study was a four likert type questionnaire.

    A questionnaire which contained 15 items were used to collect data for the study. The data collected for this study was analyzed on the basis of the hypotheses formulated for the study. Pearson product moment correlation was used as the statistical technique for data analysis. The study however revealed that socio-economic background, educational background and family size have profound effects on biology teaching in secondary schools.

    It concluded that these family variables considered in this study have great influence on Biology teaching in secondary schools, summary was made and recommendations were considered, that teachers should be aware and discourage some negative tendencies that are likely going to influence the academic pursuit of Biology teaching in secondary schools.

    Family Variables and Biology Teaching in Secondary Schools

     CHAPTER ONE

    INTRODUCTION

    1.1       Background to the Study

     The family is one the functional groups in the society which everyone comes from. There must be sense of relationship in the family among its members to portray such behavior or relationship before members will start to relate with people outside.

    According to Kreppner and Lerner (1989), the approach of the family from the child perspective concerns with the nurture versus nature, the flexibility of the child at different ages to being molded by the family and the relative outcomes of the family variables. Student engagement in school is regarded current and valued variables despite the lack of empirical studies on its relationship with specific family variables.

    The present research studies on the correlation between family variables and Biology teaching in school, specifically hinted on these variables that will make the teaching of Biology to be more effective in secondary schools. In order to describe the state of art of students’ engagement in school, that is how students participate in school activities will be affected by their family variables. For instance, ignorance of the parents on the use and provision of adequate educational materials for their children may cause student to be ill-equipped and they could result in poor academic performance of the children in school.

    These family variables have also brought serious frustration on students, parents, social status and educational background can affect students’ Academic performance either positively or negatively, a students’ intellectual development. Students’ poor academic performance reflects on the parental background. Such homes are characterized by poor communication, lack of privacy and over crowdedness.

    Such employment does not pose a challenge to children educational aspirations according to Hawks (1975). The homes constitute the immediate environment into which a child is born. Isakson and Jarvis (1999), see family variables in two aspects, parental involvement (provisions of resources) and autonomy support seeing the students as active individuals, these aspects are of greats interest since they contribute to the students’ autonomy to carry out academic activities and to maintain a good and strong sense of competence.

    A study published by William (2004) on Biology teaching, improved family variables have an impact on a child academic work. Furthermore Udo (2004) stressed that the relationship between family variables and Biology teaching, a teacher has to guide the students especially when the students are in groups to learn with different individuals differences from their families.

    Some research work on Ekpe (1975) affairs that highly educated parents are more likely to give their children practice at home, take real interest in their progress and function as their achievement model. Family expected to foster value orientation in children, it dimension and frequency in recent years leaves on doubts as to what will become of our society in the nearest future (Inyang 2004). According to Ekpo (2003) family is a home where the husband, wife and children live together in peace, love and harmony. It is the family that provides the ideal environment for children to receive the necessary training.

    Some family are organized while some are disorganized, this is as the result in family variables involved. Isichie (1996) stated that organized family variables successfully achieve the inculcation to the children while unorganized family contributes to indiscipline. This disorganization may be viewed in form of divorce separation, desertion, gross parental neglect etc.

    Family Variables and Biology Teaching in Secondary Schools

    Lovell (2004) opines that other factors in family could include, general standard of living, medical and health care, nutrition and motivation. The moral and emotional condition of the home may equally affects academic work. Polygamous homes are sometimes overcrowded and noisy, making it difficult for a child to find a suitable place to study.   Lovell (2004) also opines that conditions such as each of environmental stimulation may result in dullness and dull children are likely to be backward in most school subjects especially Biology.

    Balnieced (2004) maintained that occupation of parents, social status, parent’s religious beliefs, political power and prestige may have a consideration effects on the difficulty with which the child can gain a place among peers in school. Perceptual defect that is perceptual modality make up may affect the child in school. A child background affects his perception and his personality development.

      The school will be fighting a lost battle if these variables are not given adequate consideration. The family variables that will be looked into this study are socio-economic background, family size and educational background. It is against this back drop that this study is carried out to examine the extent to which these family variables affects Biology teaching in secondary school in Ikono Local Government Area.

    1.2   Statement of the Problem

    Biology is one of the pure science subjects taught by science teachers in secondary schools. Teachers have tried to impact the knowledge of Biology into the students. It gives the student a firm understanding of the morphology and basic life process of a wide variety of organisms, student who wish to further needs to have the foundation in Biology.

    Unfortunately the public opinion about the teaching of Biology standard of education has fallen. Again, the view that affects mental development of the children and their performance in the school has been a subject of concern and controversy for years. Whether this is a problem that will continually face the challenging nature of students’ interest, attitude, ability and aptitudes is the task of this research work to establish.

    These concerns have been expressed by parents, individual and groups who have interest in pure science generally and Biology in particular about this dismal performance several variables have been considered but the researchable is interested in examining those variables responsible for this situation. The researcher’s interest and commitment investigating the continuous existence of the problem is timely with view to findings lasting solution to the subject in secondary schools.

    1.3   Objectives of the Study

    The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between family variables and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.

    Specifically, the objectives are:

    1. To determine the relationship between parental socio-economic background and effective Biology teaching in secondary schools.
    2. To determine the relationship between family size and Biology teaching in secondary schools.
    3. To determine the relationship between parental educational background and Biology teaching in secondary schools.

    1.4   Significance of the Study

    This study is significant because of the following reasons:

    1. It will enable the teachers to identify the individual needs and difference of students and find out remedial measures to carry them along.
    2. It will improve the social behaviour of the teachers.
    3. Enable educationist, researchers to carry out further investigation on the effect of variables on the academic achievement of the students.
    4. It will help educators and others alike to know the relevant family variables that affect academic achievement of the students, in Biology teaching in secondary schools.
    5. It helps the parents to realize how much their socio-economic status affects their children’s performance.
    6. It helps parents to know the effect of their family size on educational achievement of their family size on educational achievement of their children.

    1.5   Research Questions

    In the course of this study, the following research questions were formulated:

    1. To what extent does parental socio-economic background affect Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area?
    2. To what extent does family size affect Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area?
    3. What is the extent of the effect of family educational background on Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area?

    1.6   Research Hypotheses

    1. There is no significant relationship between parental socio-economic background and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.
    2. There is no significant relationship between family size and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.
    3. There is no significant relationship between parental educational background and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.

    1.7   Delimitation of the Study

    The study was delimited to family variables and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area. It was also focused on three variables which include family socio-economic background, family size and family educational background. In addition, only Biology teachers from the selected schools were used as respondents.

    1.8   Limitation of the Study

    The research study was concerned with family variables and Biology teaching in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.

    Some problems encountered in this research work were:

    1. Financial constraint posed a major setback for the completion of the study as the researcher hardly gathered enough funds to allow for the coverage of other teaches in other Local Government Areas.
    2. The period given for the completion of this study could hardly be enough for a wider and more in-depth research into the problem situation.

    iii.     The study was restricted to only one Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

    1.9   Definition of Terms

    For the purpose of clarity, the researcher has decided to define the following terms used in the study:

    Biology: Biology is a systematic study of living organism

    Family: Family refers to as basic social unit consisting of parents and children.

    Variables: In this study, variables refer to only the family factors that influence Biology teaching.

    CHAPTER TWO

    REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

    This chapter focuses primarily on the review of existing research work carried out in the field of education. The review is based on the following concepts and variables involved in the study:

    1. An overview of family variables
    2. Socio-economic background and Biology teaching in secondary schools
    3.  Educational background and Biology teaching in secondary schools
    4. Family size and Biology teaching in secondary schools
    5. Summary of literature review

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