INFLUENCE OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF IMO STATE, USING OWERRI WEST AS A CASE STUDY

INFLUENCE OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF IMO STATE, USING OWERRI WEST AS A CASE STUDY

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Background Of The Study

In December 2019, the influenza-like illness known as COVID-19 was discovered in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China. It was first classified as pneumonia of uncertain origin (Zhu N, Zhang 2020). Later, the international council on the taxonomy of viruses (ICTV) determined that the pathogen that caused COVID-19 was a new coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS–CoV2) ( ICTV 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic is quickly spreading not just in China but also around the globe. Because of this, on March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed it to be a pandemic (WHO 2020). As of the 25th of August, 2020, the total number of confirmed cases and mortalities was 23,491,520 and 809,970, respectively, spanning 216 nations (WHO 2020).

The government responded to the threat of a disease spreading by taking a number of preventative steps. Restrictions on travel, forced quarantines for travelers, social distance, prohibitions on public gatherings, closure of schools and colleges, closure of businesses, self-isolation, requesting individuals to work from home, curfews, and lockdowns are some of the measures that have been taken (Paital B 2020). As a preventative step against the rapid spread of the virus infection, the authorities in a number of nations throughout the globe have implemented either lockdowns or curfews (Paital B 2020). These policies will have a detrimental impact across the board, including on commerce, education, health, tourism, and other industries (Pragholapati A 2020).

As the number of instances of COVID-19 escalated at an alarming rate, the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria issued a directive ordering all educational institutions in Nigeria to close their doors and enable students to return home (Ezinna 2020). On March 19, Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, informed reporters that the instruction was part of the country's broader plan to prevent the spread of the virus. He also said that the decision was issued by the ministry. However, the influence of this situation was not restricted to the closure of many sectors of the economy; rather, on a deeper school, it did impair the academic performance of many students, including students in secondary schools.

A person or a student's academic performance may be defined as how well they are able to do when given a learning assignment, activity, or as one's accomplishment in standardized assessments in academic pursuits. The way in which students approach their coursework and the many assignments that have been set for them by their instructors are both studies that contribute to their overall academic performance. Academic performance is connected to both the subject matter and the learner's intellect in this setting, which means that academic performance is dependent on the learner's level of competence.

Students' levels of commitment and consistency have dropped as a direct result of the suspension of classroom teaching in numerous schools throughout Nigeria; as a consequence, their academic performance has been mediocre and lackluster. As a result, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact that the Covid 19 epidemic had on the academic performance of secondary school students in the state of Imo, specifically focusing on Owerri West as a case study.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alarm even further when it proclaimed the issue to be a pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 is a worldwide health emergency. About 200 countries throughout the world, including Nigeria, have reported an increase in pandemic activity (Ezinna 2020). As a result, nations all over the world have, in rapid succession, stated that schools and colleges would be shut down for a minimum of two weeks or one month in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which the World Health Organization has identified as a worldwide pandemic. On the other hand, this legislation did have an effect on several parts of the economy, notably the education sector (Pragholapati A 2020).

The epidemic caused by COVID-19 has had an education on all parts of the educational system. Educational establishments in 192 nations throughout the globe, including the United States, have either temporarily shuttered their doors or enacted localized closures, which will impact over 1.7 billion students globally (10). Many secondary schools all across the globe have either postponed or canceled all academic activities in an effort to reduce the number of meetings and, as a result, reduce the risk of virus transmission. However, the majority of students will face increased academic repercussions as a result of these actions.

Because of this, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact that the Covid 19 epidemic had on the academic performance of secondary school students in the state of Imo, with a particular focus on Owerri West as a case study.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study examines the influence of Covid-19 pandemic on the academic performance of secondary school students of Imo State, using Owerri West as a case study. This however is achievable through the following objective;

1. Determine whether Covid-19 affected students access to study materials.
2. Investigate if the period of stay at home influenced students study habit.
3. investigate the extent to which the school closure due to Covid-19 pandemic affected the academic calendar and activities of students.
4. Examine the effect of Covid-19 lockdown on the academic performance of secondary school students.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study will be guided by the following questions;

1. Did Covid-19 pandemic affected students access to study materials?
2. Did the period of stay at home influenced students study habit?
3. What is the extent to which the school closure due to Covid-19 pandemic affected the academic calendar and activities of students.
4. What is the effect of Covid-19 lockdown on the academic performance of secondary school students?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Ho1. The period of stay at home did not influenced students’ study habit.

H02. Covid-19 lockdown had no negative effect on the academic performance of secondary school students.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The results of this research will shed light on the impact that COVID-19 has on the students' academic performance while they are enrolled in Senior Secondary School. The administration will be able to ascertain the extent of the harm that the closing of the school has caused with the assistance of this research. In addition, researchers, students, and instructors will all find the study to be valuable in their own fields. The findings and recommendations of the research will be helpful to members of government, those responsible for formulating policy, and school administrators.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study covers ten (10) selected secondary schools in Owerri West, Imo State.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Coronavirus: COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. 'CO' stands for corona, 'VI' for virus, and 'D' for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as '2019 novel coronavirus' or '2019-nCoV.'

Academic performance: This is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has attained their short or long-term educational goals. Completion of educational benchmarks such as secondary school diplomas and bachelor's degrees represent academic achievement.

Organisations of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the  review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study,  sample size determination,  sample size, abnd selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

 

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