RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ONITSHA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between school physical
environment and students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Onitsha South
Local Government Area of Anambra State. Two research questions guided the study and two
null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The correlational survey research
design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised all the 641 Senior
Secondary School (SSS II) students in the six public secondary schools in Onitsha South Local
Government Area of Anambra State. The sample size comprised of 160 respondents drawn using
proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a
researcher-structured rating scale titled: “School Physical Environment Rating Scale (SPERS)
and Academic Performance Test (APT). The SPERS was validated by three experts. The experts
made adjustments to the item statements in terms of statements clarity. The instrument was
subjected to a pilot test on 20 students in Onitsha North LGA. The reliability coefficients values
of 0.81 for school site and 0.84 school infrastructural facilities were obtained respectively.
Pearson Product Moment correlation was used to answer the research questions and in testing the
hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed among others that school site has a moderate positive
and significant relationship with students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in
Onitsha South LGA. Findings of the study further revealed that school site has a high positive
and significant relationship with students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in
Onitsha South LGA. It was therefore recommended among others that policy makers should
prioritize funding for school infrastructure improvements to enhance student performance,
particularly in underserved areas with suboptimal school sites.