Impact Of School Inspection On Student's Academic Performance In Secondary School

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

The primary objective of inspection is to raise the standard of the schools. It aims at critically examining and evaluating the school as a place for teaching-learning endeavor. The emphasis on monitoring and evaluation of academic performance and development of schools has been a major function of inspection which aims at maintaining and improving the quality of learning among students. School inspection in the education system is geared towards ensuring that teachers work within standards. School inspectors ensure that teachers conform to the Nigerian curriculum with all it takes for education service delivery in secondary schools particularly but unfortunately, school inspection has been criticized for its shortcomings to assist classroom teachers to improve on the performance of students. Tuayo (1999), in giving credence to the above stated that the academic performances in most Nigerian public secondary schools have been declining over the years. In many States in Nigeria, students have been observed as underperforming in external examinations. A report from the Ministry of Education (2013) indicated that students who registered for both West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) in Rivers State obtained five credit passes (including Mathematics and English) of 13.8 percent and 20.2 percent for the said examinations respectively between 2006 and 2010. Although the free education system gulps a lot of educational resources yet the quality of education in the public schools is not yet impressive. It was therefore perceived that the sharp increase in poor academic performance of students in Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCEs), may be as a result of inadequate inspection of schools and non-implementation of inspectors’ report from the field by the government. Hence, the study investigated influence of school inspection on the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The main objective of the study is to appraise the impact of school inspection on the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Nigeria. The specific objectives include:

1. Ascertain whether regular school supervision have an impact on student’s academic performance in secondary school.

2. Determine the extent school inspection is implemented in secondary schools in Nigeria.

3. Find out whether school inspection helps to ensure that quality education is achieved in secondary schools in Nigeria.

4. Ascertain the extent checking of teacher’s classroom activities by school inspectors influence academic performance of students in senior secondary schools in Nigeria.

5. Determine the extent inspection of instructional facilities influence academic performance of students in senior secondary schools in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

The study will be guided by the following questions;

a. Does regular school supervision have an impact on student’s academic performance in secondary school?

b. To what extent is school inspection implemented in secondary schools in Nigeria?

c. Does school inspection help to ensure that quality education is achieved in secondary schools in Nigeria?

d. To what extent does checking of teacher’s classroom activities by school inspectors influence academic performance of students in senior secondary schools in Nigeria?

e. To what extent does inspection of instructional facilities influence academic performance of students in senior secondary schools in Nigeria?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: School inspection has no significant effect on students academic performance.

Ha: School inspection has a significant effect on students academic performance.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will enable the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to become aware of the impact of school inspection on student academic achievement. The study will motivate school inspectors to perform their duties more diligently. Teachers and heads of schools will see the advantages of their schools being inspected.The study contributes to the already available literature and serves as reference for other researches in relation to the impact of school inspection on the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Nigeria.