INFLUENCE OF HOME AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS ON PUPILS LEARNING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN AKWANGA METROPOLIS

Abstract

The study examined the influence of home and school environments on pupils learning in primary schools in Akwanga metropolis. The study adopted survey research design. The study was conducted in Akwanga metropolis of Akwanga Local Government Area in Nasarawa State. The population for the study consisted of 60 parents and 100 primary school teachers in the study area. Two research questions guided the study. The data collection instruments were a 10-item structured questionnaire for parents on learning materials available for the child at home and a 16- items structured questionnaire for the teachers, which described conditions of the classrooms. The researcher also used observation method to study the actual conditions of the classrooms. The instruments were validated by three experts in the Department of Educational Psychology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and administered with the help of two research assistants to 160 respondents randomly sampled from 16 primary schools in Akwanga metropolis. The reliability of the instrument was established using Test-Retest method and yielded a coefficient of 0.85. The data were collected and analyzed using frequency and percentage. The study found out that both the home and school environments were not learning inducing. It was found out that several educational materials needed to enhance learning were absent, both in home and classrooms. The study therefore recommended that concerted effort were needed to improve the present situation if the Basic Education Programme is to succeed in Nasarawa State.