Factors Affecting Academic Performance of First-Year Business Education Students in Ekiti State College of Education

The study examined factors affecting the academic performance of first-year Business Education students in the College of Education Ikere Ekiti. The study adopted the descriptive research design of a survey type. The population of the study consists of 374 Business Education students. Sample of 150 students was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire was the instrument used for the study. The validity and reliability of the instrument were ensured. The reliability coefficient of 0.90 was obtained using the Cronbach alpha coefficient which indicated that the instrument was reliable to collect the necessary data for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. The study concluded that various factors are causing poor academic performance of first-year Business Education students in the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti. These include course structure, poor students academic background, inadequate teaching and learning resources, lack of reading habit and reading plan of students, a bridge between theory and practical, lecturers' pedagogical knowledge and skills, lecturers' professional knowledge, quality of available lecturers, boring lectures presentations method among others. Therefore, t o reduce poor students’ academic performance, the study recommends that all the measures revealed in the study should be implemented in order to ensure better students' academic performance. Also, the Business Education syllabus should be re-designed and implemented to meet today’s needs. Finally, lecturers should be given proper guide and encouragement to students to make them happy for them not to lose hope towards the study of Business Education in Tertiary institutions Keywords: Tertiary Institutions, Business Education, Students, Academic Performance DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-35-07 Publication date: December 31 st 2020