TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS AS CORRELATES OF STUDENT’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study looked at the relationship between Kogi State pupils' academic success in chemistry and the characteristics of their professors. The study is guided by four distinct objectives, four research questions, and four null hypotheses. The study was designed using a correlational survey approach. 1504 SS2 chemistry students and 122 chemistry teachers from 254 public secondary schools in Kogi State made up the study's population. Using a multi-stage sampling approach, the study's sample consisted of 315 chemistry SCII students and 93 chemistry teachers from 24 coeducational secondary schools. The Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) and the Teacher Characteristics Questionnaire (TCQ) were the devices utilized to collect the data. Two professionals in the field of educational measurement and assessment validated the tools. Additionally, Prince Abubakar Audu University in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria, has a science education expert. The TCQ and CAT had reliability values of 0.86 and 0.85, respectively, for the devices. Crunbach Alpha for the TCQ and KR20 for the CAT were used to analyze data from a trial test that included 20 chemistry students and 10 chemistry teachers. The respondents received the instruments in their educational institutions. To address study questions, the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (PPMC) was employed. The hypotheses were tested using regression analysis. The analysis's findings demonstrated that both the teaching style and the teachers' qualifications strongly predicted the academic success of their students in chemistry. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that teachers should engage students-centered teaching methods for curriculum delivery and government should prioritize those with educational background/qualifications during teacher’s recruitments for effective teaching and learning of chemistry in senior secondary schools.