Comparative Analysis of Pupils’ Academic Achievements in Public and Private Schools in Ekiti State (Published)

The study observed the comparative analysis of pupils’ academic achievements in public and private schools in Ekiti State. The study used a descriptive research design of survey type. The sample consisted of one hundred and eighty-two (182) respondents that were selected from the private and public primary schools in urban and rural areas of Ekiti State. A simple random sampling technique was employed in the selection of the 182 respondents and gender equality was considered in selecting respondents for the study. Two instruments were developed and used for the study. Based on the data analyses, findings revealed that there was a significant difference in academic achievements of private and public primary school pupils in favour of private schools. It was further revealed that there were significant effects of the factors responsible for difference(s) in academic achievements between private and public primary school pupils. The outcome of the study showed that the public primary schools which were established, financed and managed by the government have not been performing up to expectation with respect to academic achievements of pupils. Sequel to the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should give adequate priority and proper attention to the education industry, particularly, the public primary schools to enhance proper pupils’ academic achievement.

Keywords: : Academic Performance, Private Schools, Pupils., public schools

Study Habits of Students: Keys to Good Academic Performance in Public Junior High Schools in the Ekumfi District of Ghana (Published)

This study examined the effect of study habits on the academic performance among public Junior High Schools in Ekumfi District in the Central Region of Ghana. It adopted the Study Habits Inventory Theory postulated by Bakare (1977). The mixed sequential explanatory approach was followed in the conduct of the study where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. The multi-stage sampling procedure with the use of proportionate stratified random sampling and convenience sampling techniques were used to select 475 students’ even though 380 were correctly filled and therefore used for the study. Structured questionnaire, semi-structured interview guide and checklist were used as instruments for data collection. With the aid of the Version 20 of the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS), descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistical tools such independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and Multiple Regression were used to analyse the quantitative data whilst the thematic approach was used to analyse the qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that study habits significantly accounted for 44% variance in students’ academic performance. It further showed that reading and note-taking (β=0.605, p=0.000) and time management (β=0.133, p=0.001) made unique significant individual contribution to academic performance whilst the contribution of examination (β=0.011, p=0.830), homework and assignments (β=0.036, p=0.529), and concentration (β=.-.039, p=0.394) did not individually contribute significantly to academic performance. Besides, the study hypothesis disclosed that apart from gender and age, the circuit and form significantly impact on their academic performance. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service should pay attention to study habits of students so as to heighten academic performance of students in Ekumfi District.

Keywords: : Academic Performance, and Junior High School, study habits