TEACHERS’ MOTIVATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS

TEACHERS’ MOTIVATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS 

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine on “Teachers’ motivation and academic performance of students in Economics in Ukanafun Local Government Area”. Three research questions were put forward to guide the study. The population size of nine thousand and eighty six (9086) was used from seven (7) public secondary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Sample of five hundred and ten (510) respondents were collected by means of simple random sampling technique from seven (7) secondary schools in the study area. The research instruments used were teachers’ and students’ motivation questionnaire on academic performance. The instruments were validated by the supervisor and used for the collection of data from the respondents. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentage. Based on the findings, it was found out that payment of teachers’ salaries, organization of seminars, conferences and workshops and good general working condition of teachers are core motivation factor to the teachers. It was recommended among others that teachers should be motivated by regular payment of salaries, organization of seminars and good general working condition.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents                                                                                 Pages

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study          -        -        -        -        -        1

1.2     Statement of the Problem         -        -        -        -        -        2

1.3     Objectives of the Study             -        -        -        -        -        3

1.4     Significance of the Study          -        -        -        -        -        4

1.5     Research Questions                  -        -        -        -        -        6

1.6     Limitation of the Study              -        -        -        -        -        6

1.8     Delimitation of the Study          -        -        -        -        -        6

1.9     Definition of Terms                   -        -        -        -        -        7

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1    Teachers’ Motivation and Attitude to Work             -       8

2.2    Conferences, Workshop and Seminars impact on

Teachers’ Attitude to Work           -       -       -       -       10

2.3    Impact of Motivation on Students’ Performance      -       11

2.4    Problems Affecting Teaching Performance             -       13

2.5    Motivational Strategies for Teachers’ Effectiveness          17

2.6    Chapter Summary               -       -       -       -       -       21

       

CHAPTER THREE: METHODS

3.1    Area of the Study       -       -       -       -       -       -       22

3.2    Research Design        -       -       -       -       -       -       23

3.3    Population of the Study       -       -       -       -       -       23

3.4    Sample and Sampling Technique  -       -       -       -       24

3.5    Instrument for Data Collection      -       -       -       -       25

3.6    Validation of the Instrument         -       -       -       -       25

3.7    Reliability of the Instrument         -       -       -       -       26

3.8    Method of Data Collection            -       -       -       -       26

3.9    Method of Data Analysis      -       -       -       -       -       26

CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS OF DATA AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1    Research Questions    -       -       -       -       -       -       27

4.3    Discussion of Findings         -       -       -       -       -       33

CHAPTER FIVE:   SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND

CONCLUSION

5.1    Summary           -       -       -       -       -       -       -       35

5.2    Recommendations      -       -       -       -       -       -       35

5.3    Conclusion         -       -       -       -       -       -       -       36

        References        -       -       -       -       -       -       -       37

        Appendices                -       -       -       -       -       -       -       39

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Education has been recognized as the fundamental basis on which any nation could function effectively. Its socio-political and economic viability depends solely on the qualitative education giving to her citizens. Any nation that wants to be recognized as a developed country must build its human resources firmly. Hence a country is said to be technologically developed if majority of her populace are well educated. Therefore, those that impart the needed knowledge or those that mould characters must be motivated adequately because motivation is the key for effective performance and improvement.

Aside, it is believed that a motivated teacher always complete the task set for him even when such task or assignments are difficult or seen uninteresting. However, the pertinent question that may rise is: What is motivation? Motivation comes from Latin words “movers” which means to move. So, motivation can mean the process of arousing the interest of individual to take a move towards a certain goal. Harzberg (2006) defines motivation as all those phenomena which are involved in the stimulation of actions towards a particular objectives where previously, there was little or no movement towards those goals.

Mccelland (2006) stated that ‘motivation is the process involved in arousing, directing and sustaining behaviour’. He went on to say that motivation is used to an individual. Based on the above, motivation is a force that makes ones to do what he is aroused to do, constantly influencing the vigour direction of his actions towards the achievement of certain goals.

Therefore, teachers need to be effectively motivated since motivating teachers would encourage teachers commitment to the teaching profession hereby upgrading the performance of students. As a follow up to the above, the effectiveness of a teacher lies on the degree of how such a teacher is motivated. Hence, this study was conducted to examine how teachers’ motivation can influence the academic performance of students in Economics within Ukanafun Local Government Area.

1.2    Statement of the Problem

It is observed that the academic performance of students is bad generally. This could be as s result of the under listed reasons:

It could be due to the fact that teachers who teach them may to be in their right frame of mind to help them with the needed knowledge due to lack of motivation.

It could be due to lack of necessary teaching aids to facilitate the teaching and learning process.

It could be that students are not well taught since the teachers are not motivated to the extent of giving their best to the profession.

It could be that teachers do not give in their best due to non payment or delayed in salary by the authority concern. Therefore, the resultant effect of this problems affect the educational system in which teachers are the anchor for the society at large, since the educational sector cannot produce the desired result. However, this study intends to find out the way of ameliorating this challenges.

1.3    Objective of the Study

This study was aimed at examining teachers’ motivation and academic performance of students in Economics in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

On the whole, this research work was investigated under the following guidelines:

i.             To assess whether regular payment of salary and promotion of teachers affect their attitude to work.

ii.            To find out the extent to which programmes like seminars, conferences, and workshops that are organized for the teachers can enhance their personal academic and professional growth in order to transfer same to the students under their care.

iii.           To examine the extent to which the general working condition enhance better performance of teachers in the school system.

1.4    Significance of the Study

It is important for the research to put into consideration, the significance of teachers’ motivation and academic performance of students. However, this research will be significance in the following ways:

On the government: When teachers are motivated, the government will benefit immensely in the sense that the teaches put in their best, the students (youth) will be properly taught in order to contribute properly to the economic growth and development of the nation and the welfare of its citizens.

Parents will also benefit when teachers are being motivated in the sense that the students will be responsible to their parents and also the money spent on them will not be in vain because they will help in carrying out family’s responsibilities.

Students on their part will benefit equally when teachers are motivated because more attention will be given to them by their teachers for the proper teaching and learning process, which endear them to be good ambassadors of the school, society and country at large through their academic achievement.

The teachers also benefit a lot when they are adequately motivated especially in terms of promotion, fringe benefits, regular salaries are paid at and when due will as a result of giving in their best to the teaching process. This will in turn check or reduce teachers leaving the profession for other areas of human endeavor.

This work will serve as a source of reference materials to further research.

1.5    Research Questions

For the purpose of this study, three research questions were posed. They are:

1.            To what extent does irregular payment of teachers’ salaries affect their attitude to work?

2.            To what extent does seminars, conferences and workshops organized for teachers help in their teaching competence for their effective delivery of the services to the students in order to enhance the students’ academic performance?

3.            Is the general working conditions of teachers good enough to encourage them turn out good and academically sound students?

1.6    Limitation of the Study

In writing a research of this nature, limitations are bound to occur. These include among others: the study was limited to Ukanafun, short time frame, financial constraint and limited material or literature.

1.7    Delimitation of the Study

  This study covers all secondary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

1.8    Definition of Terms

Motivation: This is a force that initiates, directs and sustains behaviour towards a worthwhile goal.

Teaching aids: These are print and non-print materials and equipment used in teaching and learning process.

Biological needs: These are important needs of man such as: food, water, sleep, shelter, sex etc.

Teacher: A teacher is someone who imparts knowledge to the learners.

Academic performance: It is the outcome of education – the extent to which a student teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.

Student: This is someone who enrolled or attends classes at a school, college or university.