Effects Of Students Overpopulation On The Academic Performance Of Government Secondary Schools In Owerri Municipal2

EFFECTS OF OVERPOPULATION ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF IMO STATE

A RESEARCH PROJECT (ED 451) SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, ALVAN IKOKU FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OWERRI.

IN AFFILIATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA (UNN)

IN

PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION ACCOUNTANCY (B.SC.ED)

BY

OSUJI MACGOWIN C. BD/06/28011

MARCH, 2011

APPROVAL PAGE

This research project has been supervised and approved as meeting the requirement for the award of Bachelor of Science in Education (B.Sc.ED) for school of Education, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri in affiliation with University of Nigeria Nsukka.

BY

Mrs Ajero. O. (ACA) …………………
…………………

(Project Supervisor) Sign Date

Dr. B.C. Iwuama ………………..
………………..

(HOD of Edu. Psychology/G&C) Sign Date

Dr. C.N. Ugwuegbulam …………………
………………….
(Dean School of Education) Sign Date

External Examiner
……………..
………………

Sign
Date

DEDICATION

This work is in the first instance dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also dedicated to the club Ochos’ for their patience and support of our academic works.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to the Almighty God for giving us grace, good health, love and infinite mercies which enabled us to finish this work safely. We are also grateful to the Provost, Alvan Ikoku Federal Collage of Education, Owerri, Dr. (Mrs.) B. C. Ijeoma for providing a conducive environment for academic activities in Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education. Our gratitude goes to the Dean, School of Agric and Vocation, Dr. R. E Onuoha and the Head of Department of Accountancy, Mr. B. C Uchegbu (CAN, ACTI) for the able ways they have been piloting affairs in the school and department.

Our appreciation goes to our able supervisor, Mrs. O. Ajaero, whose firm but amiable insistence on excellence propelled us from beginning to the end of this research work. Thank you for your constructive criticism and patience in correcting us, we are so much indebted to you.

We pay our heartfelt tribute to our siblings and parents; Eze
– Efaa Uche Benjamin Agu (V), Mr. I.O Osuji (ACA), Mr. Caleb Nwachukwu and Mr. Emmanuel O. Ekekwe. Without your endless support, our Education would not have been a reality. We owe you a lifelong appreciation.

We most humbly acknowledge our friends. You are all one in a million, and wonderful friends indeed. Thanks so much.

MacGodwin C.
Osuji

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i Approval page ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of contents v-vii

Abstract viii

Chapter one
INTRODUCTION: Background of the study
1-2

Statement of the problem
2-3

Purpose of the study
3

Research questions
3

Significance of the study
4

Scope of the study
5

Chapter two
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE: Theory of overpopulation
6-7

The concept of overpopulation
7-10

The concept of academic performance
10-12

The causes of overpopulation
12-16
Incidence of overpopulation in government secondary schools
16-19
The problems of overpopulation of students in government

secondary
19-22
The impact of overpopulation of students in government secondary schools on their academic performance
22-25

Summary of the related literature
26

Chapter three
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research design
27

Area of the study
27-28

Population of the study
28-29

Sample and sampling technique
29

Instruments for data collection
29-30

Validation of the instrument
30
Reliability of the instrument
30- 31

Administration of instrument
31

Method of data analysis
31

Chapter four

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

Analysis of research question one
32-34
Analysis of research question two
34-35
Analysis of research question three
35-36
Analysis of research question four
36-37
Summary of findings
38

Chapter five

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION, EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY, LIMITATION OF THE STUDY,SUGGETION FOR FURTHER STUDIES AND SUMMARY OF STUDY.

Discussion of findings 39-42

Conclusion
43-44
Recommendation
44
Educational implication of the study
44-45
Limitation of the study
45
Suggestion for further studies
45-46
Summary of study
46-47
References
48

Appendix
54
49-
ABSTRACT

The study aimed at establishing the effects of overpopulation on the academic performance of government secondary schools. It is designed to identify the factors that contribute to the increase in students’ population, find out the students – teacher ratio in government secondary schools and also the impact of the increase on the academic performance of students. A descriptive survey design was used, while the population of the study consists of government owned secondary schools in Owerri educational zone. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the four (4) schools out of the nine (9) schools in the zone. The four secondary schools selected have a total population of five thousand five hundred and thirty (5530) students and eighty (80) teachers. The sample size consists of five hundred and fifty four (554) students and eight (8) teachers. Data were represented in a tabular form. A closed format questionnaire with four points likert rating scale was used for data collection, and the mean score were used in analyzing the responses of the research questions. As a result of this research work it was found out that the students – teacher ratio in government secondary schools is between 55 – 60 students per teacher. Some recommendations were made, which include that the ministry of education should give quota on the students enrolment in government secondary schools in order to reduce the number of students per teacher, and infrastructural facilities should be provided to the schools in rural areas in order to avoid students’ migration to the urban areas.

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION Background of the Study
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, as at 2004, the population of Nigeria secondary schools stood at one hundred and eighteen thousand, two hundred (118200) secondary schools while that of Imo state showed a total number of two hundred and five (205). Owerri Municipal council had about seven (7) secondary schools, with a population of Seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615) students. This figure when compared with that of 1999 which was inclusive according to Federal Ministry of Education was very high because during that period, it was so in order to attract Federal Government attention.

The present Nigerian population of secondary schools going by the above number is almost twenty one thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight (21828) secondary schools, with Imo state having three hundred and twelve (312) secondary schools and Owerri Municipal 9 government secondary schools.

According to the statistics department, Secondary Education
Management Board (SEMB), there has been a rapid increase in the population of students in Owerri Education zone from seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615) students to ten thousand, five hundred and seventy (10570) students. There is a constant increase in the population of secondary schools which runs contrary to the new encyclopedia Britannica, volume (A) assertion. Unlike population of insects, population rarely has been subject to explosive or collapsing numbers.

Overpopulation refers to a situation where the total number of people in an area exceeds the available resources. Overpopulation can also be defined as deficiency in resources development in relation to the available people Osuji (2008). This means existing resources can not march the immediate population number.

Evidence has shown that the population of students in urban schools is on the increase. The steady areas to enjoy recreational facilities, which keeps them busy after studying is one of the factors that contributes to overpopulation of secondary schools in urban areas.

Under population of secondary school in Nigeria has had a negative impact in the Nigeria educational sector, and the output is devastating in terms of loss of standard and its attendant results.

This situation of over population could be speculated to be speculated to be responsible for the untold hardship, corruption, social disorder, poor standard of living, crime etcetera. In this, there will be lower standard of education, inadequate instructional materials, production of poor or a few quality text books, congested classrooms and attendant education in characters (dropout as a product of the so called schools).

Statement of the Problem

Over the years, there has been an increase in the population of students in urban secondary schools. This has been consistent, without the attendant increase in facilities, teachers and infrastructure, etcetera. With the decline in the quality of education and output, it therefore becomes imperative to find out whether the increase in population of students’ directly affect their academic performance and identify the causes of increase in population of students in government secondary schools in Owerri educational zone and what could be done to remedy the situation.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study is to ascertain the impact of overpopulation on academic performance of government secondary students specifically, the study intends to:
1. Identify the students - teacher ratio in government secondary schools.
2. Identify the causes of increase in students’ population in government secondary school.

3. Find out the impact of the increase in students population in government secondary schools on the academic performance of students. 4. Make recommendations on how to curtail increase in students’ population. Significance of the Study

This study will be of immense benefit to students, teachers, educational planners, government and society at large.

For the students, it will motivate and increase their willingness to attend school and help improve their performance in school.

To the teachers, it will help improve abilities of the teacher to manage the classroom efficiently because reduction in the number of students encourages teacher - students’ relationship and leads to effective and efficient academic performance.

To the education planners, it will be a guiding material to enable them check the population of students in relation to the available schools to accommodate them.

To the government, it will serve as a guide to identify the need to improve the infrastructure available for teaching and learning.

The study will be of great significance to the society at large as it will help produce qualified citizens that will contribute positively to the growth of the society and it will also serve as a resource and reference material to future students.

Research Questions

For the purpose of carrying out this research, the researchers pose the following questions:

(1) What is the student - teacher ratios in government secondary schools?
(2) What are the causes of increased students’ population in government secondary schools?
(3) What are the impacts of the increase in population of students in government secondary schools on the academic performance of the students?

Scope of the Study

This research work is restricted to only government secondary schools in Owerri Municipal Council. The secondary schools are:

 Government secondary school Owerri

 Comprehensive Development secondary school Owerri

 Emmanuel college Owerri

 Government technical college Owerri

 Ikenegbu Girls’ secondary school Owerri

 Holy Ghost college Owerri
 Owerri girls’ secondary school

 Urban development secondary school Owerri

 Boys’ secondary school New Owerri
CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

 Theory of over population

 The concept of over population

 The concept of academic performance

 The causes of over population

 Incidence of over population in government secondary schools

 The problems of over population in government secondary schools

 The impact of overpopulation of students in government secondary school on their academic performance

 Summary

Theory of Overpopulation

Malthus(1934) reasoned that human population tends to grow at a geometrical rate, while our ability to produce subsistence increases at a merely arithmetical rate and so we find ourselves in an ever Deeping spiral of suffering caused by overpopulation. In Malthus view, this process could only be showed by the “preventive cheek” of decreased fertility, or the “positive check” of increase mortality.
The Malthusian theory was once thought to be quite sufficiently denounced, relegated to the status of a curious foot note in the history of economic thought.

George (1894) chapter on poverty and subsistence stand out as the definitive marshalling of the abundant logical ammunition against it. At the end of the 20th century A.D; however, an increasingly influential crew of neo-Malthusians is bringing the theory back, adding that subsistence can only keep ahead of population growth at the cost of unsustainable level of environmental harm.

Two factors consistently correlate with high birth rate: poverty and lack of education. Where women have had access to education and media’ birth showed significant declines - even when income levels had not increased. It has long been known that when living standards rise in a community, birth rate tends to decline, this widely – documented phenomenon is called “demographic – shift”.

The world is experiencing a democratic increase in population. This is causing problems not only for poor, undeveloped countries, but also for industrialized full developing nations.

Overpopulation causes a considerable number of problems. In addition, education to limit the number of children per family is not always successful. In this case, it is usually difficult to provide effective educational institution by private and government services in over crowded cities. More over, there is usually a great deal, more crime which is often due to high rate of unemployment. Government must educate the people to limit the size of the family.

The Concept of Overpopulation

Overpopulation refers to a situation where the total number of people in an area exceeds the available resources. A country is said to be overpopulated when there are more people in the country relative to the available resources Agu (2007). The people have to compete for the resources and their standard of living is very low generally, thus will in turn increase the cost of living. Overpopulation implies that there is deficiency in resources development in relation to the available people Zelingky (2001).

Overpopulation does not only tend to deficiency of appropriate technology, but presses hand upon the resources and is generally growing at 2% per annum or more (Brogue 1969, clerk
1965, Peterson 1969, Simmons 1978).

Overpopulation tends to point to the fact that the existing resources cannot match the immediate population number. Overpopulation has the potential to make human life petty miserable in no distance future.

The earth currently has a recorded population of just over six billion, which twelve years ago, it was just over five billion. The global population of growth is about seventy – six million per year and the total number of humans on earth has doubled in the past
40 years. To point a more visual picture of the situation, under our current rate of reproduction, there should be nearly eleven billion people in the world in the year 2050. According to the world overpopulation awareness organization, this means that global food supply would need to be tripled in order to meet the most basic needs.

Further more, they would require a 100% increase in the total energy expended in food production Bany (2004). Dr. Bebns Sagoe, Nigeria’s national program officer for the united nation population fund gave an illustration to show the adverse effect of overpopulation. He further explains; “suppose a farmer owns ten acres of land, if he has ten children and divided the land equally among them, each child will have an acre. If each of those children has ten children and divides the land similarly, each of their children will not be as well off as their grand father who had ten acres of land”. This illustration highlighted the relationship between a growing number of people and a finite earth with limited resources. As the populations grow, many developing countries are struggling to cope with present population level. The problems are lack of resources to satisfy the population. As the number of people increase, there are greater demands on forests, topsoil, cropland and fresh water. Another is lack of infrastructures such as inadequate housing, road, sanitation facilities, health services and even schools. Also, lack of employment is not to be left out (Awake 2003). Paul R. Ehrlich, a professor of population studies at Stanford university in the united states notes the enormity of this problem, saying “while overpopulation in the poor nation tends to keep them poverty – stricken, overpopulation in the rich nation tends to undermine the like – support capacity of the entire planet” Akuemmilo (1999).

Overpopulation retards general development of the education sector. It should be noted that education stands for all the knowledge and aptitudes which any population of a country should stand to acquire. The prospect of meeting the education requirement for growing population in terms of resources and environment is a long term mirage ( Unesco source book, 2003).

This assertion of the unesco source book is a clear indication that in Urban areas that has an increasing population of secondary schools such as in Owerri educational zone which is in for a long term reform mirage.

Educational policies are not tailored according to the need of Nigerians probably because of the ever-growing institution, consequently imply on their standard of education as many absent themselves or do not hear what a teacher says in the classroom when they try to attend classes. When we relate it to these schools that have teaming population of students in them, also in most others too, students are scared. The first schools mentioned above may be said to be overpopulation because they are harboring much students than the physical structure. These situations are mostly found in the urban areas as against the rural (Okonkwo 2004).

Overpopulation in Nigeria is such that the population density is so blatant that it has caused an impaired quality of life, serious environment degradation, and long-term shortages of essential goods and services. It is an imbalance between the numbers of individuals vis-à-vis the resources needed for survival, and the ratio of population over resources, and a fraction of the number of density of individuals compared to the resources food, employment, business opportunity and infrastructures. We are now in a state of meager or non – existent capability to sustain human life due to corruption, lack of credible leadership and of course uncontrolled child birth.

Let us now have a thorough look at the situation in Owerri education zone in respect to Government Secondary Schools. As a result of immigration from the rural areas in Imo State to the urban area (Owerri Municipal), it has led to over population of people in the areas. The students ought to be accommodated in the rural area schools are transferred to the urban area without a cores pending increase in the schools or classrooms to accommodate the students and more teacher to handle them. There is no doubt that this ugly trend must have its negative consequences on the academic achievement of the students in these affected schools in the urban area.

The Concept of Academic Performances

Academic achievement could be determined by several factors, Ojiako (2007) defined academic performance as the total outcomes of ones educational activities. It is seen as the end product of academic work load.

Most people know that academic performance generally refers to how well a student is accomplishing his or her tasks and studies but there are quite a number of factors that determine the level and quality of students’ academic performances.

These factors are:

 Grades

It is certainly the most well known indicator of academic performance, grades is the students’ “Score” for their classes and overall tenure.

Grades are most often a tallying or average of assignment and test scores and may often be affected by factors such as attendance and instructor opinion of the student as well.

Grading systems vary greatly by country and school, common scales include a percentage from 1 – 100 lettering systems from A – F, and grade point Average (GPA) from 0 – 4.0 or above.

 Attendance

It would be difficult to perform well in class if the student doesn’t attend. In public grade schools, attendance is compulsory and numerous unexcused absences may lead to notifying the students’ parents, banning of make up work for missed assignments and test or direct affect on grades. In extreme instances, parents have even been taken to court and given jail term for their tenant students or wards.

 Standardized test

Standardized tests are those that provide a consistent measure of a student’s performance with those that take the same test, often nationwide. Standardized test include the Stanford achievement test (SAT), the Stanford binet intelligence scale, and the California achievement test (CAT). As testing procedure and scoring are consistent regardless of where the test is taken, standardized test can provide a more direct representation of the taker’s knowledge and aptitude than his or her grade in school.

 Extra curriculum activities

Although by definition voluntary, involvement in extra – curriculum activities such as volunteer work, schools and sports, newspapers develop and show-case student initiatives and leadership skills as well as provide insight into the student’s interests and priorities. Extra – curricular activities therefore can make a student more attractive to colleges and employers.

 Behaviour

Yet another measure of academic performance is the assessment of the student’s behavior while in school. Grade schools often have strict guidelines for student behavior, and violations such as academic dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism) and class disruption can lead to disciplinary action. Delran School District in New Jersey for example, cites several different types of detention and suspension for student misconduct in its 2009 guidelines.

The Causes of Overpopulation

Overpopulation could be caused (on a small time scale) by a natural disaster causing migration to a small area leading to an inadequate supply of water, food and other resources. In developing countries that require a large amount of manpower, overpopulation could become an issue as people are told to reproduce as much as possible and that trend just does not stop. Overpopulation frequently caused by lack of availability of contraceptives and taboos against abortion.

The most common effect of overpopulation is a strained social support system (health care for example) and limited resources such as food, water, and etcetera. War could also be called an effect of overpopulation as every one has to fight to get what little they stressful environment.

Overpopulation is not simply a function of the size or density of the population. Overpopulation can be determined using the ratio of population to available sustainable resources. If a given environment has a population of ten, but there is food or drinking water enough for only nine, then that environment is overpopulated; if the population is one hundred individuals but there is enough food, shelter and water for two hundred individuals for indefinite future, then it is not. Overpopulation can result from an increase in births, a decline in mortality rate due to medical advances, from an increase in immigration, a decrease in emigration, or from an unsustainable use and depletion of resources. It is possible for very sparsely populated areas to be overpopulation, as the area in question may have a very meager or non- existent capability to sustain human life (example the middle of the Sahara desert or Antarctica). The resources to be considered when evaluating whether an ecological niche is overpopulated include clean water, clean air, food, shelter, warmth, and other resources necessary to sustain life. If the quality of human life is addressed as well, there are then additional resources to be considered, such as medical care, employment, money, education, fuel, electricity, proper sewage treatment, waste management, and transportation, negation impacts should also be considered including crowding stress and increased population. If addressing the environment as a whole, the survival and well being of species other than human must also be considered.

Some countries have managed to temporarily increase their carrying capacity by using technologies such as agriculture, desalination and nuclear power. However, most technologies decrease the long – term carrying capacity unless they are designed to be sustainable. Some cornucopias have argued that poverty and famine are caused by bad government and bad economic policies, and that higher population density leads to more specialization and technological innovation and that this leads to a higher standard of living.

In the context of human societies, overpopulation occurs when the population density is so great as to actually cause an impaired quality of life, serious environmental degradation, or long – term shortages of essential goods and services. This is the definition used by popular dictionaries such as Merriam – Webster. Overpopulation is not merely an imbalance between the number of individuals compared to the resources needed for survival, or a ratio of population over resources, or a function of the number or density of individuals compared to the resources that is, food production they need to survive. When focusing on the effects of overpopulation on our daily living. Overpopulation has impacted the life of common man in reference to educational institutions most especially the secondary schools in the western Nigerian society and has proved to be one of the gravest difficulties that have to be fought. Overpopulation implies scarcity of resources and economic inflation; these are monsters which can make life miserable. We can summarize the effect or causes of overpopulation as related with academic performances of students in Owerri, Imo state as follows:

 Decline in the death rate: The fall in death rate, that is, decline in mortality is one fundamental cause of overpopulation. According to the advancement in medicine, man has found cure to the previously fatal diseases. The new inventions in medicine have brought in treatments for most the dreadful diseases. This has resulted in an increase in the life of expectancy of individuals.
Mortality rate has declined leading to an increase in population. Owing to modern medications and improved treatment to various illnesses, the overall death rate has gone down. The brighter side of it is that we have been able to fight many diseases and prevent deaths. On the other hand, the medical boom has brought with it, the curse of overpopulation.

 Migration: Immigration is a problem is some parts of the world. If the inhabitants of various countries migrate to a particular part of the world and settle over there, the area is bound to suffer from the ill effects of overpopulation. If the rates of emigration from a certain nation do not match the rates of immigration to that country, overpopulation makes its way. The country becomes overly populated. Crowding of immigrants in certain parts of the world, results in an imbalance in the density of population.

 Lack of education: illiteracy is the opposite in meaning of literacy. It is another important cause of overpopulation. When a country that is developing or under- developed lack proper educational training, there tends to be great ignorance on the factors that should have been adopted in reducing growth in the society. Those lacking education fail to understand the need to prevent excessive growth of population. They are unable to understand the harmful effects that overpopulation has based on their ignorance or illiteracy status. They are unaware of the various simulative manners of controlling population. Lack of family planning is commonly seen in the midst of families with illiterate parents or guardians who live based on their cultural beliefs. As such there exists lack of good family planning as towards reducing overpopulation in the nation. This factor is one of the major leading to overpopulation. Due to ignorance or illiteracy, they do not take the appropriate and necessary family planning measures that reduce overpopulation, thus leading to a high rate or increase in the entire population of the society in this issue, assuming the families discussed here are highly literate and the parents or guardians know how to moderate child birth and family planning appropriately, the result will be fabulous in the sense that it tends to positive response to the appropriate and desired family planning required for the control of the population of a nation so as to make out positive changes and results achieved greatly.

Incidence of Overpopulation in Government Secondary Schools

There are a lot of issues raised when and each time the public schools come to lime light. We have to highlight some factors such as the over crowed public schools which in turn have generated less learning as discipline in academic moral decline. A lot of teachers who have always present report on the usual PTA meeting have insisted that due to the fact that parents who wants their children or wards to go to school not withstanding the number of children they have and as a result of this, they dump off the children as the school’s liability and as such, there would not be positive academic performance as a result. It is realized that every large family home schooled and truly devoted their live to their children will reap little or less from the labor. Even the little they reap could still be a burden to their fellow citizens directly. The other counter argument to overpopulation has always been the care and finding of the older generations. It is a civic obligation of the citizen. The incidence of overpopulation in Government secondary schools cannot be overemphasized. The burden of over population in secondary school is mainly borne by the students. In schools that are over populated, the ratio of students to teacher is always high which has a negative impact to the student’s academic performance. It should be noted that overpopulation in secondary schools apprehends a shortage in the benefits to be achieved in the education sector. In this case it is observed that in overpopulated secondary schools, one teacher teach so many students and it is obvious that all the students cannot understand what the teacher is teaching as their attention is been divided. Indiscipline is common in overpopulated secondary schools, this is because the school is overcrowded and the teachers cannot control the students and inculcate in them the spirit of discipline. The situation of overpopulation is solely responsible for social vices, hardship, commotion, poor standard of living and crime among students in the overpopulated schools. In this situation, there are inadequate instructional materials, low standard of education, and production of poor or little quality text book for the students, congested classroom and higher rate of school drop outs.

Another reason, our culture does not want to talk about the issue of overpopulation, is two reasons; one, we are of a culture that measures success on short term growth. More people, more cheap lab or and more consumers (why have the government always looked the other way at illegal immigration? Until recently when local areas can not afford them anymore, and people are starting to get stressed by crowded conditions). This in term means constant growth somewhere, housing, wall – mart sales, whatever. We contend that a viable, smart economy does not need a growing population to be successful. Business and educational activities must be successful in a culture of stable non
– growing population. One of the constant contentions is that overpopulation is outstripping the ability to support it. There has been no pause time. The result of overpopulation in our academic environment is what we see today at all government or public schools in Owerri. In the issue of these incidents, we are now at the most critical stage of resources, the main two: energy and water. For positive results to be achieved 100% form. We have to make it on the influence of overpopulation as pertaining achieving positively great academic performance in government schools. Every thing depends on the above mentioned resources (energy and water). One the constant contentions are that overpopulation is out stripping the ability to support it. There has been no pause time. Our nation needs this very much, a leveling off of population so we can fix our infrastructures (like academic environment that will deliver good results and performances), damaged ecosystems, slow down sprawl, etcetera. The result of what is occurring to us today is a result of the fact that overpopulation is stripping our ability of water to support us invariably. What is the Middle East really in conflict over? Water, Look at our far west, mega cities built upon nothing starting to have water wars. Hell, it is happening to us due to the poor delivery of our government agencies and other social organizations which one way or the other affect the students of these public secondary schools heavily in this society of ours. Considering the area of population, the recent climate changes has affected our society and thus resulted to effect on the comfort of the students towards positive delivery of academic performances. These questions come in mind when you contemplate on these factors. We talk of why we can not level or balance our population, both as a society and as a nation? So people could have a better quality of life and so children can grow up healthy and better educated. Where is the mandate that we must have a billon people? Ten billion Or 12 billion? There is no sound reason to support this. The only argument for an individual is personal choice. But at what cost, our globe can not support it. The culture can not support it, and my prediction is that we will soon reach the breaking point, which is going to lead to chaos and anarchy in the academic entire new class of people, the under class criminal and war fighting groups composed of deposed men and women that cannot go anywhere else, but because of our unrealistic views of population we are to be blamed. This is where overpopulation according to academic performances becomes a big national security issue. The situation of over-population is to be held for social vices, crime, poor standard of living, hardship and corruption among students in the overpopulated schools. In this situation, there are inadequate instructional materials, poor production of few quality of text books or educational materials, low standard of education and school drop outs as an end product of the so called overpopulated secondary schools.

The Problems of Overpopulation of Students in Government
Secondary Schools

These problems are enormous and numerous too. (Beshavion 1992) lamented that overpopulation of schools with its many problems ranges from indiscipline to lack of dedication to duty by the teachers, lack of student control, lack of serious studies on the part of students etcetera. All the aforementioned conditions affect the academic performance of students. We can understand that a lot of reasons are behind the overpopulation of secondary schools especially in the urban areas, our focus in this research work. For instance, children of civil servants, businessmen of repute, even indigenes themselves send their children and wards to secondary schools within Owerri education zone. The problems of overpopulation in government secondary schools are being addressed through the urban and rural areas so as to create brighter atmosphere for students to achieve academic performances positively. The problems of raising children through these government schools have become so scary.

How can one balance raising children that are protected appropriately early on but also responsible once they face such challenges?

Recent surveys of these problems have listed some top discipline problems in public schools as the following;

 Drug abuse: The students in the current public secondary schools have been forced to do take hard drugs like( marijuana ) just to make them feel relieved a bit from the environment while some take it to feel belonged to their environment which is the bandwagon of spoilt and wreck less children.

 Suicide: In the government secondary schools, it has suddenly turned out to be a headache that even the students tend to try avoiding the situation in class. Due to mental stress, emotional depression and spiritually demoralized as a result of the overpopulated class rooms, a student could decide easily to terminate his/her life suddenly, because there exist no single opportunity to really meet up to the teachers expectations which is considered poor nor the parent or guardians expectations. As such, when the students lacks attention he/she tends to feel demoralized and depressed due to the harsh environment and might resolve in taking his/her life and this ending the mystery.

 Rape: In government secondary schools the condition of overpopulation should not be ignored. In a situation where there exists female students in male and female boarding schools, the males who could turn out to be corrupt and thus make out a scenario where rape would take place using the instance of the recent rape attach on the students of Owerri Girls secondary school, Owerri. In this case, the students whose accommodation is seen as uncomfortable, crowded and highly overpopulated due to the number of students admitted into the high school were molested and raped due to the insecurity of their environment. Even at this point, other government schools are still at risk if time is not taken.

 Cultism: The act of bad groups and corrupt students in secondary school has made the situation worst by resulting into cults and several fraternity in high schools in the society most especially government owned. Wherever there is intimidation of the students by the corrupt ones there is every tendency that the “good ones” among the students will initiate the characters and styles of bad acts displayed by the cult students. If the school management can not be able to control the overpopulation and out numbered students in the government secondary schools, we are left with choice of the current spate of corruption in the country to influence them effectively. But in the instance where the students are normal in population, these problems listed would have been avoided and the sanity reinstalled into the academic system.

 Pregnancy/Abortion: when in government schools, most especially the female secondary schools, the students due to overpopulation indulge in several corrupt practices and thus those ones who have one way or the other indulge in having sex would peradventure get pregnant and in order to make sure the situation is saved, the female student would have no choice than to follow the “usual” way or culture of others by hither to aborting the pregnancy to remain in the school environment. Due to competition among these girls, based on getting pregnant and thus aborting the baby. When there is overpopulation this happens, and the students who are supposed to be educated fail to achieve good academic performance.

 Robbery and prostitution: In a situation of student being overpopulated, the teacher will have no firm control on the affairs of the students. The boarding schools would be an alternative for breeding robbers and prostitutes in the society. For instance, Holy Ghost secondary school is so populated and the problems emanating from the students are above level. The school which comprises of only the male students who are corrupt and hence the issue of robbery has been the order of the day by most of the boys. Why? Due to the fact that it is a day – school where the student are expected to leave their home in the morning and come back in the evening, as such they do not really attend the normally school lessons. Some of the students practice how to rob and execute crimes without the knowledge of the government. Government has tried to agree with the secondary education management board to regulate the member of students that are admitted into government secondary schools. Even at that, the overpopulation of children who are desperately desiring the education of the high school directly or indirectly, In the issue of prostitution, most female secondary schools and even the “missed” public secondary schools have as well be forced to accumulate a lot of female students and as a result, the fight for being the richest girl and the sharpest makes the students indulge in prostitution so as to make money to take care of themselves. Why? it is as a result of negligence and depression they suffer as a result of the poor family background they emerged from.

The Impact of Overpopulation of Students in Government
Secondary Schools on their Academic Performance

The pride of educational system depends not just on the quantity but more importantly, on the quality of its product at all levels. Ojiako, (2007) defined academic achievement or performance as the total outcomes of ones educational activities. It could be seen as the end product of academic work load.

The quality of the students in turn depends largely on the quality of education diet that students receives in secondary schools and which is also dependant on upon the standard of control that teachers and students enjoy. It has been observed that, the problem of adequate and effective quality control has been responsible for producing students who remain half – baked and could not assist the society in which they find themselves( Erinle & Abioye, 2003). The problem of quality in Nigeria public secondary schools has been a recurring one, more so after the introduction of free Education policy in certain parts of Nigeria in
1979 and Universal Basic Education of 1999.

Many criticisms have been associated with the low standard of secondary school education in Nigeria. The greatest among these is the lack of quality of its products.

According to the critics, it has been growth without development (Akuemmilo, 1993). The problems of our secondary school include poor academic performance, gross indiscipline among staff and students, weak and incompetent teachers, poor quality teaching, poor performance in public examinations, high waste rate and so on.

However, many factors have been identified as being responsible for the poor quality of work in our public secondary schools. They include: poor funding, inadequate supply of qualified and experienced teachers and outdated method of teaching among others (Akuemmilo, 1993). Despite the clamors for education, education has not been accorded its rightful status and value in Nigeria’s development efforts by both civilian government and military regimes since independence. Many bottlenecks, missteps and crises have manifested in our educational institutions. These are noticeable at the four national levels of education (public primary especially).

Some of the glancing indices of crises in education include dilapidation of school buildings, exorbitant prices of textbooks and other instructional aids, incessant teacher’s strike and maladjusted student behavior and so on. For many years, educationists and researchers have debated on which school variables influence students’ achievement.

Considering the work of Ogoamaka (1998), he argued that in the expansion of the educational system, the problems of quality and quantity is inevitable, therefore it is necessary to encounter and be prepared to control these issues since they are mutually exclusive and also for any better and meaningful changes as regards to education in any society or nation, qualitative aspect of education must be considered expedient, the rapid growth in Nigerian population alongside with the alarming school registration on high demand. The acquisition of education is predominantly in the minds of majority of people and every individual want to do everything to acquire it, in terms of money cost and material cost.

Under our existing constitution (1999), the federal, state and local governments share the primary responsibility for providing quality education. However, the prescription that the minimum standard which must rest squarely on the Federal Government, courtesy Decree 16 of 1985 and its consequent amendments. it is pertinent to know that the control of quality in education in Nigeria is as old as the introduction of formal education in the country by church missionary bodies. In order to do this, government set up the National Council of Education (NCE), Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE), and other relevant parastatal such as National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and so on.

However, academic performance could be poor or good. A child is said to be performing well in his academics when he is scaring above average that is, 50% and above, while children that scores below 50% are said to be academically poor. This means that the academic performances of students are measurable.

Thus, the impacts of increase in students’ population on academic performance of students are as follows:
 Overpopulation of government secondary school entails that classrooms take more than the required number of students just the way the total number of people in a geographical area exceeds the available resources in an economy. In school setting, these resources include the dormitories which are equally overpopulated by students. When this is overcrowded, the atmosphere no longer becomes conducive for comprehensive reading, thus hampering good academic performance by students which are evident by their consistent failure in examinations. Both dormitories and classrooms are built to accommodate a given number of students and when these numbers exceeds what is available, there is overpopulation because the amount of air needed in the dormitories and classrooms will not be enough for those that needed it.

 Since students repeatedly fail in their examination due to unconducive environment, they resort to engaging in all forms of examination malpractices which clouds the worth of a person and if not properly checked, it could have an adverse effect in the long run on the students’ academic performance.

 Overpopulated classrooms generates noise making, the teacher is not heard by the students neither can the students make a difference between what their teacher is saying and that of other teachers in nearby classrooms. This is especially so in schools that has long halls with no permanent partition. This greatly inhibits the teaching and learning process as most students listens to series of distorted sounds that are able to keep their attentiveness imbalance in the classroom.

Summary of the Related Literature

We have in this chapter portrayed the view of different authors on the concept of overpopulation or increase in students’ population, the problems of overpopulation in government secondary schools and the impact of overpopulation of students in government secondary schools on the students’ academic performance. Based on the definition of overpopulation and that of academic performance or achievement, we could now deduce that overpopulation and its ugly heads, to a large extent determines a child’s academic performance in terms of being an average or good student, and a low academic achiever. Increase in student’s population has apprehended a shortage in educational achievement, students whose schools are overpopulated tends to achieve low academically. From the foregoing; we are rest assured that our investigation on the factors contributing to increase in students’ population in government secondary schools in Owerri educational zone would be fruitful to all and sundry.

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter describes the procedures adopted by the researcher while conducting the research work. This chapter is described under the following heading:

 Research Design

 Area of the study

 Population of the study

 Sample and sampling techniques

 Instruments for data collection

 Validity of the instrument

 Reliability of the instrument

 Administration of the instrument

 Method of data analysis

Research Design

The study is a descriptive survey design. This research design was considered appropriate because it is one of the best available research design for the purpose of describing conditions as they exists, considering the overpopulation of schools these days.

Again, it was designed in such a way as to obtain relevant information through the questionnaire.

Area of the Study

The area of study was Owerri Municipal Local Government in Imo State, Nigeria. The reasons for making this choice are that the researchers are conversant with Owerri educational zone.it will afford the researchers chances of getting respondents and easy collection of information necessary for carrying out this research project.

Population of the Study

The population of study consists of students in government owned secondary schools in Owerri educational zone. There is a total number of nine public secondary schools in this zone. Statistics from the secondary schools in the zone showed a total population of one hundred and eighty teachers (180) and fourteen thousand five hundred and seventy (14570) students. Among the list of the public secondary schools are:

Government Secondary Schools in Owerri Municipal Council

S/
N
NAMES OF SCHOOL
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
TEACHERS
1
Government secondary school Owerri
2220
-
2220
22

2
Comprehensive
development secondary school Owerri
950
1120
2070
18
3
Emmanuel college Owerri
1750

1750
21
4
Government technical college Owerri
1740

1740
20
5
Ikenegbu girls’ secondary school Owerri

1105
1105
21
6
Holy ghost college Owerri
1830

1830
21
7
Owerri girl’s secondary school 1745
1745
21
8
Urban development secondary school New
Owerri
415
520
935
17
9
Boys’ secondary school
New Owerri
1175

1175
19

GRAND TOTAL
10080
4490
14570
180
Source: Statistics Department

Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Owerri
– Imo State. (2009/2010)

Sample and Sampling Technique

The subjects for the study were drawn from four secondary schools in Owerri Municipal Council. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the four (4) schools out of the nine (9) secondary schools in the zone. The sample size of the population include five hundred and four (554) students and eight (8) teachers. Further more, the members of the populations are homogenous with respect to the attribute being studied. According to Nkwocha (2007), w44hen the population size is very large, ranging up to 5000, 10% of the population might be used as sample. Thus, a sample of 10% of the entire sample was used for this study, they are as follows.

Selected Government Secondary Schools

S/N
NAMES OF SCHOOL
STUDENTS
SAMPLE
TEACHERS
SAMPLE
1
Government Technical college Owerri
1740
174
20
2
2
Emmanuel college
Owerri
1750
175
21
2
3
Ikenegbu Girls’ secondary school Owerri
1105
111
21
2
4
Urban development secondary school Owerri
935
94
18
2

TOTAL
5530
554
80
8

Instrument for Data Collection

In this study, the instrument we used for data collection was a structured items questionnaire. The questionnaire titled “Effects of overpopulation on academic performance of students’ in government secondary schools in Owerri”. The questionnaire has d section A and B. Section A is the personal data of the respondents such as name of schools, sex, age, marital status and so on. While section B is the study of the questionnaire such as questions and research questions in order to gather information from the respondents.
The questionnaire was developed based on the research questions. Again, a close format questionnaire with four point likert type rating scale of Strongly Agreed (SA), Agreed (A), Strongly Disagreed (SD) and Disagreed (D) type of questionnaire was used as follows:

Strongly Agreed (SA) 4 points Agreed (A) 3 points Disagreed (D) 2 points Strongly Disagreed (SD) 1 points

 VALIDATION OF THE INSTRUMENT

The researchers designed the questionnaire after consulting literature and questionnaire designed by previous resources and researchers as guild to the development of the instrument. The researchers gave the questionnaire to experts in the field and their supervisor for their criticism and validation. They checked the wordings and items in the questionnaire. The researchers produced the final version of each instrument based on comments and suggestions.

 RELIABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT

The researchers ascertained the reliability of this instrument by using a test – retest method. A pretest of this instrument was given to two (2) teachers and twenty (20) students who were administered on two occasions on each group of respondents separately at intervals of two weeks between the first and second administration. The scores obtained from the test – retests were correlated using the spearman rank order correlation coefficient technique and the score got was 0.78.this indicated that the instrument has internal consistency.

 ADMINISTRATION OF INSTRUMENT

The researchers personally administered the questionnaire to all the respondents by visiting all the secondary schools selected for the research. Five hundred and sixty two (562) was administered but five hundred and forty (540) was retrieved.

The personally administered instrument helped the researchers to further explain the purpose of the research and to answer questions that might be raised by some respondents. The completed questionnaires were collected some minutes after administration.

 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

The mean score were used in analyzing the responses of the research questions. The responses were weighted using the four point likert type rating scale (point estimate). Each of the scale choice was multiplied by the weight of the choice, sum up and divided by the total number of choices to determine the mean score. The bench - mark was obtained by adding the total weight and dividing by 4, 2.5 and above indicate that the responses were significant.

CHAPTER 4

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

The result of the study was presented and analyzed using mean score(X).

Research Question one

What are the students – teacher ratio in government secondary schools?

Table 4.1: Students – teacher ratio in Government secondary schools S/N
ITEM STATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
X
REMARK
1
The number of students per class in Government secondary schools is more than the normal student
– teacher ratio of 30 students to one teacher.
295
105
85
55
3.2
Agreed
2
Students in rural areas always migrate to urban secondary schools, thereby increasing the number of students in the urban secondary schools.
270
95
105
70
3.0
Agreed
3
Teachers in the urban/government secondary schools teach up to 55-60 students per class.
290
85
85
75
3.1
Agreed
4
The total number of teachers in government secondary schools is limited, compared to the increasing population of students in the area.
341
136
44
19
3.5
Strongly
Agreed
5
There is a steady increase in the population of students in government secondary schools.
268
97
88
87
3.0
Agreed
Total mean = 15.8

Cluster mean = 3.16

From the above table, table 4.1 it is observed the of 3.2 is at a greater number of respondents agreed that the number of students per class in government secondary schools is more than the normal students – teacher ratio of 30 students to one teacher.
The cluster mean of 3.16 is greater than the bench – mark which is 2.5 (that is, 3.16 > 2.5). This implies that the number of students per class in government secondary schools is actually more than the normal students – teacher ratio of 30 students to one teacher.

In item 1, a total mean score of 3.2 was obtained from the analysis. This shows a very significant value of the mean. In item 2, a greater number of respondents agreed that students in rural areas always migrate to urban secondary schools, and this resulted to a mean score of 3.0 this shows that it is statistically significant.

Also, in item 3, 375 respondents agreed that teachers in the government secondary schools teach up to 55 – 60 students per class. While the total number of 90 respondents disagreed, total mean scorer of 3.2 was obtained from the analysis. This is a significant mean score.

In item 4, a total number of 477 agreed with the assertion these constituted a mean score of 3.5, which is significant.

On the other hand, a total mean of 63 respondents disagreed on the assertion, which is less than the number of respondents that agree. This implies that it is significance.

In item 5, a total of 3.0 representing a total number of 365 respondents who agreed with the assertion, while a total of 175 respondents disagreed with assertion, which shows a significant mean score.

It can therefore be concluded that the assertions are true.
Teachers in the government secondary schools teach more than the required number of students in a class, and is also justified that the number is on a steady increase.

Research Question two

What are the causes of the increase in students’ population government secondary schools?

Table 4.2: Causes of increase in students’ population

S/N
ITEM STATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
X
REMARK
1
Lack of recreational facilities in rural areas, which keeps students busy after studying, contributes to migration of students form rural to urban areas.
305
105
85
45
3.2
Agreed
2
Lack of family planning contributes to the increase population of secondary schools in the urban areas.
305
85
85
70
3.2
Agreed
3
Polygamy has immensely led to over- increase in the number of issue per income. 315
100
85
45
3.3
Agreed
4
Availability of infrastructural facilities in urban secondary schools contributes to increase in students’ population. 325
65
111
39
3.3
Agreed
5
Well-equipped laboratory and building of hostels motivate people to school in the urban area.
225
165
75
75
3.0
Agreed
6
Qualified teachers in government secondary schools also attract people to school in the area.
271
102
89
78
3.0
Agreed
Total mean = 19.0

Cluster mean = 3.2

The analysis of the data on table 4.2 shows that a greater number of respondents agreed that lack of recreational facilities rural areas contributes to migration of students from rural to urban areas. The mean of 3.2 shows a very significant value of the mean. A mean of 3.2 obtained in item 2 shows that it is statistically significance.

Also in item 3, a greater number of persons agreed with the assertion and this resulted to a mean score of 3.3, which is significant one. Furthermore, in item 4, 390 respondents agreed that availability of infrastructure facilities in government secondary schools contributes to increase in students’ population, while 150 respondents disagreed, given a total mean of 3.3, which is significant. The mean of 3.0 and 3.0 obtained in item 5 and 6 respectively were also significant.

In conclusion, the assertions are truly the causes of the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools.

Research Question three

What are the impacts of the increase in students’ population on the Academic Achievement of students?

Table 4.3: The impact of the increase in students’ population on the academic performance of students’

S/N
ITEM SATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
X
REMARK

1
Students who study in overpopulated schools in the urban areas score low in the general examination.
450
90
0
0
3.9
Strongly
Agreed
2
Increase in students population in urban secondary schools leads to examination malpractice. 305
105
45
85
3.2
Agreed
3
Increase in students’ population in government secondary schools encourages good student-teacher relationship. 35
45
413
147
2.2
Disagreed
4
Academic environment of overpopulated government secondary schools are conducive for learning.
-
-
490
150
2.1
Disagreed
5
The problem of obnoxious attitude amongst the students increases as a result of increase in students’ population in urban secondary schools.
345
85
75
35
3.4
Strongly
Agreed
Total mean = 14.8

Cluster mean = 3.0

The analysis of the data on Table 4.3 shows the number of respondents that agreed and the one that disagreed with the assertion. The mean scores of 3.9, 3.2, 2.2, 2.1 and 3.4 respectively are significant. Since the mean score of the respondents that strongly agreed is greater than the one that did not agree and are very significant, therefore the assertion are truly the impact on the academic performance of the students, in overpopulated government secondary schools.

Research Question four
What are the impacts of the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools on the people in Owerri education zone?

Table 4.4: The impact of the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools on people in Owerri education zone

S/N
ITEM SATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
X
REMARK
1
Increase in students population in government secondary schools leads to congestion of roads some times in the area.
251
149
75
65
3.1
Agreed
2
There is an increase in the price of goods and services in the urban area due to increase in students’ population in urban secondary schools. 45
85
304
106
2.1
Disagreed
3
Social amenities will not be sufficient in the area due to the increase in students’ population in urban secondary schools.
345
85
75
35
3.4
Agreed
4
Increase in students’ population in government secondary schools and the rate of social vices amongst students in the urban areas is very high.
225
175
75
75
3.1
Agreed
5
Increase in students’ population in government secondary schools result to a higher cost of living in the economy.
-
-
450
90
1.8
Strongly
Disagreed
Total mean = 13.5

Cluster mean = 2.7
Based on the analysis of the data above it shows that the questionnaires, which Agree and with the research has a mean score of 3.1, 3.4 and 3.1 respectively and are very significant. Again the respondents on the questionnaire items which recorded the mean score of 2.1 and 1.8 are insignificant; this is because it is not up to 2.5 which is the bracket.

Statistically, since the respondents that agreed with the assertion recorded are greater in number and have a very significant than the persons that disagreed. Therefore, it can be concluded that the assertion is true that the increase in students’ population has an impact on the people in the area

Summary of Findings

Based on the data analyzed in this chapter, the following were derived

 The students – teacher ratio in government secondary schools in between 55 – 60 students per teacher, and the population of students in the area is on the increase, with limited teachers, both in number and qualification.

 Lack of recreational facilities in rural areas, improper family planning, availability of infrastructural facilities in the urban secondary schools e.tc. Contributes immensely to the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools.

 Students whose schools are overpopulated score very low in the general examination. They also involve themselves in examination malpractice.

 Overpopulation of secondary schools on a large extent is the cause of traffic congestion in the urban areas. This is because, at two o’clock when schools in urban dismissed, the good number of students that force themselves across the road observed the free flow of traffic.



CHAPTER5

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION, EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATION OF STUDY, LIMITATION OF THE STUDY, SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDIES AND SUMMARY OF STUDY

Discussion of Findings

The researchers were able to find out the students – teacher ratio in these over populated secondary schools. Table 4.1 showed that a greater number of respondents agreed with the assertion that the number of students per class in urban secondary schools is on the increase and more than the normal students – teacher ratio of
30 students to one teacher. The total mean score of 3.2 obtained from the analysis in item 1 shows a very significant value of the mean.

It is also observed, from the analysis in item 2 and 3 that the migration of students in the rural areas to urban areas constitutes an increase in the students – teacher ratio. This proved that teachers in the urban area teach up to 55-60 students per class, this finding is in line with ( Zelinsky, 2001) assertion that overpopulation leads to deficiency in resources development in relation to the available people. It implies that the teachers available can not be able to control the overpopulated students in order to get the required result. Also, according to (Bogue 1969,
Simmons 1974), overpopulation does not only lead to deficiency of appropriate technology, but presses hard upon the resources and is generally growing at 2% per annum or more. The researchers also find out the total number of teachers in urban secondary schools is limited, compared to the increasing population of students in the area. This is justified in item 4 where a total number of 477 respondents agreed with the assertion, while 63 disagreed and these constituted a mean score of 3.5, which is significant. The study also showed that there is a steady increase in the population of students in government secondary schools.

This study has revealed a lot of factors which contributed to the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools. The result obtained from the analysis of the data on Table 4.2 proved that lack of recreational facilities in rural areas contributes to migration of students form rural to urban areas; this finding is new and unique. The total mean of 3.2 shows a very significant value of the mean. A greater number of the respondents also agreed that improper family planning contributes to increase in students’ population. Also well – equipped laboratory and building of hostel motivate people to school in the urban areas. Qualified teachers in urban secondary schools also attract people to schools in the area. The total mean of 3.3, 3.0 and 3.0 obtained in item 4, 5 and 6 respectively are very significant. These factors actually contributes to the increase in students population in urban secondary schools from the data analyzed, this is because parents will prefer to send their children to schools that has infrastructural facilities, well equipped laboratory and qualified teachers, thereby increasing the population of the schools.

From the data analyzed in table 4.3, it is discovered that students who study in overpopulated schools in the urban areas always score low in the general examination. The mean score of
3.9, which is very significant, proved that greater number of the respondents strongly agreed with this assertion. Examination malpractice is also on the increase in overpopulated urban secondary schools, teachers and examiners in these schools can not co-ordinate the examination properly and control students in the examination hall as a result of the overpopulated students. The study also revealed that there is no good student – teacher relationship in overpopulated secondary schools. Academic environment of overpopulated government secondary schools are not conducive for learning from the result obtained. Also, a greater number of the respondents strongly agreed that the problem of obnoxious attitude amongst the students increase as a result of increase in students, population in urban secondary schools, this is arrived from a significant mean of 3.4 obtained from the data analyzed. This finding is in agreement with Ojiako (2007) assertion that students who repeatedly fail in their examinations due to unconducive environment, resort to engaging in all forms of examination malpractices which clouds the worth of a person and if not properly checked, could have an adverse effect in the long run on the person academically.

The researchers were able to find out the impact of increase in students’ population has on the people in Owerri educational zone. The analysis of the data showed that congestion of road in Owerri as a result of the increase in students’ population in the area. A significant mean of 3.1 implies that a greater number of the respondents agreed with this assertion. The finding of the study also proved that social amenities will not be sufficient in the area due to the increase in students population in government secondary schools, a mean score of 3.4 was obtained from the analysis which is very significant and represents a greater number of the respondents that strongly agreed with the notion. Further more, the result obtained from the data analyzed showed that the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools and the rate of social vices amongst students in the urban area is very higher. According to Nnabuo (1999) students cannot effectively and adequately control inclinations to vices and criminal activities like cultism, which takes place now in an unprecedented scale; questionable behaviors springs up due to bad companies are prevalent in schools that are overpopulated.

Conclusion

This research project wads designed to find out the student
– teacher ratio in government secondary schools, identify the causes of increase in students, population in government secondary schools. It is also the aim of the study to know if any difference exists between the scores of students whose schools are overpopulated and those that have normal population. It was discovered that overpopulation is associated with lack of dedication to duty by the teachers, lack of student’s control, and lack of serious studies on the part of the students. Four secondary schools in Owerri education zone of Imo state were selected and used also for research. Questionnaires were issued to all the secondary schools involved in the research by visiting them one after the other by the researchers. Data collected were analyzed using four point modified scale and calculated using the mean score statistical formula. The result obtained after analyzing the data revealed that the ratio of students to one teacher in the government secondary schools is more than the normal student – teacher ratio of 30 students per teacher, and the teachers in government secondary schools teach between 55-60 students, population in government secondary schools were analyzed, such as lack of recreational facilities in the rural areas, improper family planning, well – equipped laboratory and availability of infrastructural facilities in the government secondary schools. The study also showed that students whose schools are overpopulated perform poorly in the general examination compared to students whose schools have normal population.

As a result of our findings, we persuaded the government, teachers, parents, and those responsible for education administration to put heads together in giving quality education to the students. Also, we persuaded the government to reduce the size of each class to 30 students per class in order to enhance students’ academic excellence, and there should be a quota for enrollment into government secondary schools. It was suggested that there should be a replication of this research work in order to achieve more findings.

Recommendations

In view of the researcher findings, the researchers wish to make the following recommendations that are necessary;

 The ministry of education should give quota on the students’ enrolment in government secondary schools.

 The class size should be limited to 30 students per class to ensure academic excellence of the students.

 The government should provide infrastructural facilities in the rural areas to avoid students in the area migrating to urban areas.

 The entrance examination into urban secondary schools should be high.

 The government should always organize a family planning program on the newly wedded couples.

 Trained and qualified teachers should be sent to both the urban and rural secondary schools.
 More private secondary schools should be established in the urban areas to help accommodate students in the area.

Educational Implication of the Study

The result of this revealed that the collapse of discipline in schools in spite of previous efforts is due to the increase in population of government secondary schools; therefore every effort should be made by the government, parents, and teachers to curtail this ugly situation. Well – qualified teachers should be recruited in the secondary schools, and a strict disciplinary measure should be taken to ensure higher level of disciplines with the overpopulation situation. Increase in the population of government secondary schools which is as a result of migration of students from rural to urban areas should be managed by providing recreational facilities in rural areas, secondary schools in the rural areas should be provided with infrastructural facilities and well qualified teachers should be recruited in the area to area to avoid students in the rural secondary schools migration to urban secondary schools. Further more, this study gives government and couples, insight on how to organize a proper family planning programme, this will help in reducing the number of issues per couple. Finally, the parents and teachers should counsel, guide the students on deviant behaviours and its effect on their academic performance.
Limitations of the Study

The limitations of this study include the following:

 Financial constraints stemming from the cost of transportation and materials.

 Time constraint. This project is meant to be submitted within a short period of time.

 Uncooperative attitudes of some of the respondents who feel reluctant in giving out information about their schools and families for reasons best known to them.

Suggestions for Further Study

1. Wider geographical area in order to obtain disparity in academic achievement of students in urban secondary schools.

2. Further investigation should be carried out on family planning and effective overpopulation control system.

3. As a result of problems encountered during this research work and dynamic nature of our society, which is prone to changes every day, probably due to socio-economic and political situations in the country, this research work is not the final. Further research work could be carried out, for improvement on this study, which enables researchers to achieve the total aim and objective of this study.
Summary of the Study

This research work on effects of overpopulation on the academic performance of government secondary schools in Owerri educational zone is a five – chapter exercise. It is basically designed to identify students-teacher ratio in government secondary schools, identify the causes of increase in students population, find out the impact of the increase in students population in government secondary schools on the academic performance of students, and make recommendations on how to curtail increase in students’ population. About four research questions were used in the research work.

The research work is composed of a review of related literature and the methodology involved in the use of questionnaire with which researchers gathered data and they were analyzed and interpreted. A lot of findings were made in the course of the research, including that the students – teacher ratio in government secondary schools is between 55-60 students per teacher, and the population of student in the area is on the increase, with limited teachers, both in number and qualifications, lack of recreational facilities in rural areas, improper family planning, availability of infrastructural facilities in the government secondary schools etcetera contributes immensely to the increase in students’ population in government secondary schools. Form the analysis of data collected through the research work, it could be deduced that students whose schools are overpopulated score very low in the general examinations, and they also involve themselves in examination malpractice and other social vices. Also overpopulation of secondary schools on a large extent contributed to traffic congestion in the urban areas.

To harness the situation, it is suggested and recommended that the ministry of education should give quota on the students’ enrolment in urban secondary schools; the class size should be limited to 30 students per class to ensure academic excellence of the students. The government should provide infrastructural facilities in the rural areas to avoid students in the area migrating to urban secondary schools, the entrance examination into urban secondary schools should be high. Further more, the government should always organize a family planning programme on the newly wedded couples.

Finally, trained and qualified teachers should be recruited in both the urban and rural secondary schools. More qualified private secondary schools should be established to help accommodate the students.

REFERENCES

Agu, I.N (2007). Fundamentals of Educational Measurement and
Evaluation. Umuahia: Cape Publishers International Limited. Akuemmilo, E.O (1993). Research Methodology and Statistics.
Awka:

Nuel Centi Publishers.

Beshavien, G.J (1992). Large Overpopulated cities in the under developed world. New York: Oxford University.
Nkwocha, P.C (2007). Educational Research Process made Easy.

Owerri: Chinas hop Publishers.

Nnabuo, P.O (1999). Educational Management, Concept and
Practice.

Port – Harcourt: Bengray Co.

Ogamaka, P.M (2006). Descriptive Statistics for Research Students.

Ibadan: Wisdom Publishers.

Ohakumori, I.O (2002). Educational Research Method. Port – Harcourt:

University Press.

Ojiako, L.M (2007). History of Education. Enugu: Mac angel
Publishers.

Okonkwo, C.E (2004). Introduction to Micro Economics. Owerri: Critical

Publisher.

The Encyclopedia Americana. (2000). Volume A, USA Encyclopedia

Americana Corporation. Uwazie, I.U (2008). Writing Research Project in Social Science and

Education. Owerri: Chyzon Concept.

Zelinsky C.U (2001). Overpopulation in the Urban Region. London: University Press.

APPENDIX A

QUESTIONNAIRE ON EFFECTS OF OVERPOPULATION ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT SECONDARY
SCHOOLS STUDENTS’ IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL

Accountancy,
Department of

Alvan Ikoku Federal College

Of Education, Owerri.
P.M.B 1033

21st January, 2010.

Dear Respondent,

We are final year students of the above mentioned institution carrying out a research project on the above issue. We appeal to you to help us fill the following questionnaire. The result of our finding is hoped to make Imo sate education board to formulate policies that will convert teeming population students’ in government secondary schools in Owerri educational zone into an optimum size.
This work is strictly on academic exercise and we promise that all information given will be treated as highly confidential and will be used for the purpose of this research work.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.

Yours Faithfully,

APPENDIX B

QUESTINNAIRE FOR TEACHERS

PERSONAL DATA

Please tick good ( ) where appropriate

Name of school

Position

Sex: Male [ ] Female [ ]

Age: 20 – 30 [ ] 31 – 40 [ ] above 40 [ ]

Qualification: NCE/OND [ ] B.ED/B.A/B.SC [ ] M.SC [ ]

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDENTS

PERSONAL DATA

Please tick good [ ] where appropriate

Name of school

Class: Jss1 [ ] Jss2 [ ] Jss3 [ ] Sss1 [ ] Sss2 [ ] Sss3 [ ]

Sex: Male [ ] Female [ ]

Age: 11 – 18 [ ] 19 – 25 [ ]

APPENDIX C

Please tick against the correct answer where applicable. The initials below stands for (SA) Strongly Agreed, (A) Agreed, (SD) Strongly Disagreed, (D) Disagreed.

STUDENTS TEACHER RATIO IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS

S/N
ITEM STATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
1
The number of students per class in
Government secondary schools is more than the normal student – teacher ratio of
30 students to one teacher.

2
Students in rural areas always migrate to urban secondary schools, thereby increasing the number of students in the urban secondary schools.

3
Teachers in the urban/government secondary schools teach up to 55-60 students per class.

4
The total number of teachers in government secondary schools is limited, compared to the increasing population of students in the area.

5
There is a steady increase in the population of students in government secondary schools.

CAUSES OF INCREASE IN STUDENTS’ POPULATION

S/N
ITEM STATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
1
Lack of recreational facilities in rural areas, which keeps students busy after studying, contributes to migration of students form rural to urban areas.

2
Lack family planning contributes to the increase population of secondary schools in the urban areas.

3
Polygamy has immensely led to over-increase in the number of issue per income.

4
Availability of infrastructural facilities in urban secondary schools contributes to increase in students’ population.

5
Well-equipped laboratory and building of hostels motivate people to school in the urban
74
area.

6
Qualified teachers in government secondary schools also attract people to school in the area.

75

THE IMPACT OF OVERPOPULATION OF STUDENTS’ ON THE
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS

76

THE IMPACT OF INCREASE IN STUDENTS’ POPULATION IN
GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS ON PEOPLE IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL

S/N
ITEM SATEMENT
SA
A
D
SD
1
Increase in students population in government secondary schools leads to congestion of roads some times in the area.

2
There is an increase in the price of goods and services in the urban area due to increase in students’ population in urban secondary schools.

3
Social amenities will not be sufficient in the area due to the increase in students’ population in urban secondary schools.

4
Increase in students’ population in government secondary schools and the rate of social vices amongst students in the urban areas is very high.

5
Increase in students’ population in government secondary schools result to a higher cost of living in the economy.

77