EFFECT OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC VRIABLES ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RIVERS EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of socio-demographic variables on academic performance in mathematics among secondary school students in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. This study employed a descriptive survey design. The study population is composed of 8,024 senior secondary school students in Obio/Akpor LGA. The study used a sample of 198 students. The non-proportionate stratified random sampling method was adopted to draw students for the study. A self-structured questionnaire titled: Socio-Demographic Variables On Academic Performance in Mathematics Among Secondary School Students questionnaire (SDVAPMSSSQ). The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and one other lecturer from the Department of Library and Information Science. The reliability of instrument was a t-test. Crubah Alpha was used with a reliability coefficient of 0.923. The instrument was analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research question while t-test was utilized to test all the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there was no significant influence of socio-demographic variables on academic performance in mathematics among secondary school students in Rivers East Senatorial District of Rivers State. Based on the findings, the study recommended that educators should continue to encourage students irrespective of age to take their studies seriously to maintain and improve their academic performance, and evaluation strategies should be free of gender bias. This will make males and females see themselves as equal, capable of competing and collaborating in school activities.