GENDER DIFFERENCES: ATTITUDE AND STUDENTS’ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TOWARDS SCIENCE IN ILORIN METROPOLIS

Abstract

This study focuses on the differences between male and female students' attitudes and academic performance in public secondary schools in the Ilorin Metropolis. Correlation research was used in this work. All Junior Secondary Schools made up the study's sample population. To conduct the study, 125 students were chosen at random. For this study, academic achievement data were gathered from the records of the classroom teachers. The researcher created an attitude questionnaire to gauge the respondents' views on science. The questionnaire was on a 4 point likert scale instrument ranging from strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree. The instrument was validated by four educational management experts and reliably tested at r=0.91 The research questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics like mean and percentage, and the hypotheses one and two was examined using an inferential statistics of t-test, while hypothesis three was tested using pearson product moment correlation. The results showed that there is significant difference on the performance of male and female students in science, there is significant difference on the attitude of male and female students towards science and there is significant relationship between the attitude and performance of students in science subjects. In conclusion, the sex of the students is an important factor that needs to be taken into account when science is taught and learned. The advancement of science and technology in society requires both male and female developmental involvement. In order to address the gender gap in secondary schools‟ students' attitudes and performance, the researcher advised using a gender-sensitive approach.

 

Keywords: Gender, Academic Performance, Attitude, science, Public secondary school