Abstract
This study examines the strategies for improving academic performance in literature in English in secondary schools with emphasis on Ogbomosho baptize high school. The main purpose of this study is to explore the tactics of improving academic performance in literature in English in the study area. Apart from the educational advantages, literature in English is a written works, especially those considered of superior, which is one of the great attributes of a literary man, that is, power of intuition. The study explore some of the strategies that focused on communication skills and academic reading and writing skills. Current theories of teaching favor students-centred classrooms. In Literature-in-English lessons, active participation of students is essential for optimal learning. This study was carried out in Ogbomosho, town, Oyo state, southwestern Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research method for the study. The population of the study constitute student of Ogbomosho Baptist high school Oyo state. The instrument of data collection was a four likert scale questionnaire which was administered by the researcher to the selected teachers and student. The method of data analysis was percentage, frequency method and Chi-square statistics.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Literature-in-English is a subject taught in Nigerian senior secondary schools with multiple objectives, such as fostering cultural awareness, improving language skills, encouraging personal development, and adequately preparing students for school certificate examinations (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, 2019). The curriculum includes drama, prose, and poetry from both African and non-African literary texts. Teachers are encouraged to supplement their teachings with relevant materials and information from their immediate environment (NERDC). Despite the comprehensive objectives outlined in the curriculum, the level of student engagement and mastery in Literature-in-English remains disappointingly low. Over the past seven years (2017-2023), less than 25% of students achieved a credit grade (A1-C6) in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The qualitative reports from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Chief Examiner indicate a continuous decline in students' performance. This recurring high failure rate highlights specific challenges in the teaching-learning process, impeding students' progress. Urgent and effective interventions are required to reverse this trend, as failure to do so may endanger the status of Literature-in-English as a school subject in Nigeria. Given the aforementioned context, this study aims to examine the teaching-learning process in Literature-in-English classrooms that will bring about improvement in academic performance in Ogbomosho Baptist high school. It recognizes that the manner in which instruction is delivered can significantly impact students' learning and academic achievements. Additionally, the study seeks to explore teachers' perspectives on the reasons behind the deteriorating performance of students in Literature-in-English during standard examinations. Literature is commonly understood as a compilation of writings covering various subjects or fields of endeavor. Nevertheless, it can also be described more technically. For instance, Alorams (2011) provides a definition of literature as “the capacity to create, imagine, and express ideas or compositions through a specific method, along with the study of that method itself.” In simpler terms, literature is viewed as a distinctive subject characterized by its content and methodology. The Oxford Concise English Dictionary offers another definition, referring to literature as “written works, particularly those appreciated for their beauty of language or emotional impact.” This definition underscores literature as a means of expressing ideas, thoughts, and emotions, with a focus on the aesthetic value of language. Another perspective sees literature as a reflection of a people's cultural experiences, where language forms an integral part of this cultural expression. Understanding a people's literature becomes crucial in comprehending their language, as literature serves as an art of language, with words being the fundamental components of expression. The definitions explored above illustrate the interdependence of Literature-in-English and the English language. Language functions as a tool for conveying literature's essence, while literature, in turn, enriches and utilizes language as its means of expression establishes an existence, literature serves as a tool through which language propagates itself. The relationship between language and literature is an interdependent one; literature does not and cannot exist independent of language because language is the conveyor of literature. The National Policy on Education (NPE, 2004) in Nigeria emphasized that our children should be educated properly so that they can acquire skills and competencies that would enable them function well and solve problems in the society. The accomplishment and realization of these important educational goals in Nigeria lies in the new trend in the educational approaches. These new approaches to learning and instruction expose the students to conceptualize and effectively manage their own learning and thus reinforce their learning and transfer their training in practical situations. Despite the new approach to learning and instruction, literature in English at the Senior Secondary School level in Nigeria has been plagued with poor results and low achievements in Ogbomosho Baptist high school.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Improving academic performance in literature in English in secondary schools in Ogbomosho Baptist high school is something which everyone expects to be of higher quality because of the roles the school plays to provide service to the community, on the other hand those who failed to perform better cannot contribute well to the human resources because they don’t have skill needed. Despite of its importance, this has not been implemented effectively thus, many public schools still lack improved performance. This is alarming and it indicates that school performance in literature in English is poor in Ogbomosho Baptist high school. The poor academic performance in literature in English among secondary school reflect superficial and temporary knowledge. This has called for a review on the teaching strategies adopted by teachers in Baptist high school to aid improving the academic performance. It is in view of this that the researcher set out to examine the strategies for improving academic performance in literature in English in secondary schools with emphasis on Ogbomosho Baptist high school.
- PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to examine the strategies for improving academic performance in literature in English in secondary schools with emphasis on Baptist high school Ogbomosho. The specific objective of the study are;
- To examine the teaching technique that will improve academic performance in literature in English in Baptist high school Ogbomosho
- To ascertain if there is any significant relationship between teaching strategies and academic performance of student in literature in English in Baptist high school Ogbomosho
- To examine the role of teaching aid in improving academic performance in literature in English in Baptist high school
- To proffer suggested solution to the identified problem
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;
- Is there adequate teaching technique that will improve academic performance in literature in English in Baptist high school Ogbomosho?
- Is there any significant relationship between teaching strategies and academic performance of student in literature in English in Baptist high school Ogbomosho?
- Does teaching aid play any role in improving academic performance in literature in English in Baptist high school?
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to teachers of Baptist high school Ogbomosho as the findings of the study will help them improve on the existing teaching strategies to academic performance of student in literature in English. The study will also be of importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the findings of this study will serve as a pathfinder to further studies. The study will also be of great importance to students, teachers, researcher’s, academia’s and the general public as the study will contribute to knowledge on the subject matter and also add to the pool of existing literature on the subject matter.
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study covers the strategies for improving academic performance in literature in English in secondary schools with emphasis on Ogbomosho Baptist high school. The scope of the study was specifically within secondary schools in Ogbomosho Oyo state. However, every effort was made to ensure that sampling used was adequate to collect information required for drawing conclusions. Head of schools, Teachers, and students preferred by the researcher as the main respondents because they were the direct consumers of the researcher’s concern.
- OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Strategies
Strategy can be define as a general direction set for the organization (schools) and its various components to achieve a desired state in the future.
Academic performance
Academic performance is the measurement of student achievement across various academic subjects. Teachers and education officials typically measure achievement using classroom performance, graduation rates, and results from standardized tests
Literature
Literature, a body of written works. The name has traditionally been applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution.
Literature in English
English literature is literature written in the English language from the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire
