ASSESSING the impact of educational facilities on academic performance of secondary school students in view of identifying the factors militating against its comprehensive utilization

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Education, in every human community, is an indispensable instrument for human, empowerment, progress and effective national development.

This suggests that a nation that lacks a sound educational culture and philosophy stands the risk of decay whereas a nation that sees to the development of its education is bound to achieve great success.
The national policy on education and the latest education reform of the government in area of secondary education has the broad aims of human capital development that aimed at preparing students for useful living within the society and preparing them for higher education.

However, a cursory look at the secondary schools in recent times suggests that the schools are not living up to expectation in the provision of functional qualitative education in the three domains of learning; viz: cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains.
It appears that over the years, the emphasis of secondary school education have been on the cognitive domain (academic performance) at the expense of the two other domains (affective and psychomotor). Meanwhile, Bandele (2002) argued that the affective and the psychomotor domains exert great influence on the cognitive domain as well as making the beneficiary of the education system live a fulfilled life and contribute meaningfully to the development of the society.
It has been generally observed that one major obstacle bedeviling the secondary schools is the students’ involvement in the anti-social vices thereby making the schools ineffective in the affective domain. Students’ anti-social vices manifest in form of absence from school, lateness to school, insubordination to school authority among others.

Many students, these days, appear to be lazy, dishonest, and always search for shortcuts to success.
Personal experience has also shown that most secondary school leavers lack requisite technical skills to be able to function effectively in the society.

It appears that the schools seem not to consider the importance of sports to the development of individuals and to nation-building.

Sporting activity (which is a very good index of psychomotor domain) is not just a routine or an annual fund-raising activity for schools but a very good avenue for talent hunt.
The ineffectiveness of schools in these two domains of learning (affective and psychomotor) have been attributed to a number of factors such as parental factor, societal factor and school factors but school factor appears to be prominent.

The school factor considered in the study is the school facilities.

Availability of school physical facilities and the conduciveness of the school learning environment have been said to be potent factors influencing students’ achievement in the affective and the psychomotor domains.
Personal visits to some schools have shown that the school physical facilities have not been in good shape. In some cases, students sit on the ground to receive lessons.

Many of the classrooms, laboratories, libraries, playing grounds are in a terrible state of despair.
Statement of the Problem
An overwhelming number of poor and minority students in Nigeria are being educated under deteriorating educational facilities not conducive to increasing student motivation and/or academic achievement.

In the absence of appropriate and decent/safe educational facilities in which most urban students can access the tools to confidently pursue their education, it is becoming almost impossible to expect tremendous gains in areas of student conduct, motivation and achievement.
Research Questions
This project aims at how teaching facilities affects the performance of students in some selected public secondary school. In order to achieve this, the following research questions are very essential.
1. Are there enough educational facilities in schools?
2. Are there materials or educational facilities relevant for academic performance?
3. Do educational facilities have impact on the academic performance of students?
Research Hypotheses
Since the study is focused on impact of educational facilities on academic performance of secondary school students, the hypotheses highlighted will be used in our analysis.
1. Educational facilities in secondary school is not enough (H₀), while (H₁) is the reverse.
2. There are no materials or educational facilities relevant for academic performance (H₀), while (H₁) is the reverse.
3. Educational facilities has no impact on academic performance of secondary school students (H₀), while (H₁) is the reverse.
 
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to find out the impact of educational facilities on academic performance of secondary school students in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.

While we do not have the data to identify the specific mechanism by which compliances is linked to educational outcomes, from existing research, we know that school buildings in poor shape lead to reduced learning. Based on the findings, recommendations were made on how to improve the performance of the students.
Significance of the Study
This study is meant to help educators and education planners realize what problems students are subjected to.

Since there is the rapid desire for education by an increasing population of Nigeria, it will go a long way to identify the area of need of students in term of adequate educational facilities.
The study is meant to identify these problems and how much effect it has on the performance of the students since these facilities exist to facilitate and stimulate the instructional program of the school system they should be provided and maintained.