Class Factors as Determinants of Secondary School Student’s Academic Performance in Oyo State, Nigeria

Classroom congestion and low utilization rate of classrooms are common features of secondary schools in Nigeria. They have negative impact on both secondary school teacher productivity, student learning input, and thus secondary school students academic performance. Thus study investigated the extent to which class factors like class size, student classroom-space and class utilization rate determined the performance of secondary school students in Senior Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) in Oyo State, Nigerian between 1997 and 2002 school years. The study was conducted ex post factor under a descriptive survey research design, 200 out of the 336 secondary schools in the state were randomly selected for the study. The multiple regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. The two research hypothesis which guided the study was tested at 0.05 minimum level of significance. Findings revealed that the three lass factors (Class size, student classroom space and class utilization rate), when taken together, determined significantly secondary school students academic performance in Oyo state between 1997 and 2002. These factors, when taken separately, also determined significantly secondary school student’s academic performance in the state. These findings are of great significance for educational planners, policy makers and both federal and state governments. These factors have to be taken into consideration while planning and also providing secondary education.