CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

Education is universally recognized as a pivotal tool for the progress of any nation, serving as a crucial driver for a country's development. This recognition is grounded in the indispensable contributions made by educated individuals to advancements in science, socio-economic growth, and the political landscape, which collectively enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and the overall societal environment. Given these fundamental values, modern education is tasked with preparing children to function effectively as future adults, a task that cannot be accomplished without the provision of adequate school facilities.

The concept of education, whether formal or traditional, is ingrained in every society. The evolution of school facilities, however, can be traced back to the formal education system's emergence, with these facilities evolving alongside changes in educational methods. Notably, the accessibility of essential resources such as financial support and a qualified workforce is also crucial. Over time, secondary education enrollment has been on a steady rise, mainly due to the introduction of various educational programs, including initiatives like the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme. Governments have consistently allocated a significant portion of their annual budgets to the development and maintenance of school facilities, aiming to enhance the education sector's overall quality.

As highlighted by Balderstenb (2014) and Comb (2005), the growth of education in Nigeria has been both gradual and dramatic. This growth has led to a substantial demand for education, especially the necessary school facilities. Notably, the quality of education is greatly impacted when schools lack essential facilities for the teaching and learning process.

An effective school facility should adapt to the evolving landscape of educational delivery, ensuring that the physical environment is comfortable, safe, secure, accessible, well-lit, well-ventilated, and aesthetically pleasing. School facilities encompass not only the physical structures but also various building systems, such as mechanical, plumbing, electrical, telecommunications, security, and fire suppression systems. Additionally, they include furnishings, materials, equipment, information technology, and various aspects of the building grounds, such as sports fields, playgrounds, outdoor learning spaces, and parking facilities.

School facilities have garnered significant attention from both the public and educators in recent years. Building Educational Success Together (BEST, 2005) underlines the responsibility of administrators to ensure that every child has access to quality education within school facilities conducive to teaching and learning. Effective facilities management directly influences the success of students, as demonstrated by a study conducted by Hale (2016), which found that students in well-designed classrooms with ample natural lighting outperformed their peers in less favorable environments. It's worth noting that the conditions within schools also impact staff, as observed by Hunter (2016) in cases of inoperative heating systems, inadequate ventilation, and poor lighting.

Scholars like Broome (2005), Hughes (2005), and Lyons (2015) emphasize that students' achievement is closely linked to the condition, design, and age of school facilities. Therefore, school buildings significantly influence the teaching and learning processes, requiring substantial investment in their development and maintenance by administrators.

Regrettably, many of the school facilities designed to foster teaching, learning, and extracurricular activities in secondary education are either obsolete or dilapidated, posing significant challenges to the educational needs of 21st-century learners. These facilities encompass school buildings, playgrounds, equipment, and other material resources that are essential for effective teaching and learning.

In conclusion, school facilities encompass the physical structures, equipment, and resources necessary for effective teaching and learning. The quality of these facilities significantly influences the teaching and learning processes in schools, affecting both students and educators. Adequate and well-maintained school facilities are imperative for achieving educational goals and providing a conducive learning environment for all students. The absence or neglect of such facilities hampers the educational system's ability to fulfill its objectives, which can result in poor student performance and a subpar learning environment.

Statement of the problem

Secondary schools in Nigeria require adequate teaching, learning, welfare/health sport and recreational facilities such as classroom, chalkboard, computer, internet/ICT, microscope, video CD player, audio CD player, textbooks, projectors, hostel accommodation, laboratories, security, libraries, sports and others recreational facilities to improve students‘ academic performances. The quality of education that our students receive bears direct relevance to the adequacy of school facilities and overall environment in which learning takes place. In other words, educational programmes and processes are greatly influenced by the school facilities.

The impact of classrooms, dormitories, libraries,laboratories and instructional materials such as textbooks, blackboards and furniture on students ‗performance constitutes the basics upon which many patrons make their initial judgmentabout the quality of the school and the educational programme. The absence of thesefacilities often leave a lot of doubt in the minds of stakeholders, parents, students and the generalsociety as to what type of teaching and learning that could take place in such asituation. Appearance and general condition of school facilities are the striking basisupon which many parents and friends of any educational institution make the initialjudgment about the quality of what goes on in the secondary schools. Fabunmi (2017) in support of this asserted that school facilities when provided will aid teaching and learning programme and consequently improve academic performances of students. Indeed, the supply of some welfare/health facilities, such as electricity, pipe born water, clinic, toilet.

It is in view of the importance of school facilities to theattainment of educational objectives that the study investigated such activities in school, since the importance of school facilities is not in doubt and since it is in a very deplorable condition in Ifedore local government area, a change for the better needs not be over emphasized. The problem of this study therefore Is what are the relationship between f school facilities on students‘ academic performances in public secondary schools in Ifedore local government area.

Objectives of the study

The main objective of the study was to examine the relationship between school facilities and students performances in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area in Ondo State , the study sought to:

determine the relationship between teaching facilities on student academic performances in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area;
examine the relationship between learning facilities on students‘ academic performance in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area;
investigate the relationship between health facilities on students‘ academic performance in Secondary schools in Ifedore local government area
find out the relationship between sport facilities on students‘ academic performance in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area and
ascertain the relationship between recreational facilities on students‘ academic performances in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area.

Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide this study.

What is the relationship between teaching facilities on students‘ academic performance in public secondary school in Ifedore local government area?
How do learning facilities impact the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?
What is the relationship between health facilities on the academic performance of students in public secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?
What are the relationship between sports facilities on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?
What is the relationship between recreational facilities on students‘ performance in public secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?

Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were raised to guide the study

There is no significant relationship between teaching facilities on students‘ academic performance in secondary school in Ifedore local government area?
There is no significant relationship between learning facilities and the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?
There is no significant relationship between health facilities on the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?
There is no significant relationship between sports facilities on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?
There is no significant relationship between recreational facilities on students‘ performance in public secondary schools in Ifedore local government area?

Basic Assumptions

In respect to this study, the following assumptions were made.

If adequate teaching facilities are provided in schools, students‘ academic performance would improve
Academic Performance of students would be encouraged if appropriate learning facilities are put to
Inadequate health facilities in schools will affect the health condition of students as well as their academic
Sports facilities promote students‘ performance in secondary
It is expected that proper provision of recreational facilities enable students‘ academic performance.

Significance of the study

It is believed that the life wire of any educational system is the extent of availability of school facilities (in terms of quality and quantity) which occupies a crucial place in the realization of its goals. However, the result of the findings in this research work shall assist every stakeholder (policy makers, school administrators, teachers, government and the students) in playing a sensitive role aimed at improving the standard of education through the provision of a conducive learning environment. First, policy makers will be well equipped with reliable and factual information which serves as an input for effective law making on issues relating to allocation of funds, timely released period and the legal framework guiding its activities.

Secondly, it will provide an extensive knowledge of school facilities to the school administrators to initiate, sustain and put to use. It will afford other researchers to look into grey areas not covered in the present study and seek ways of improving over it.

Furthermore, teachers as major stakeholders in the school system, who play an intermediate role, seek to work harmoniously with the school in encouraging the students to use the facilities. This could be to solve assignments, observe practical knowledge and in the acquisition of essential skills. It will also place a great burden on the government to provide adequate funding to the school system, equipped the inspectorate unit to carry out its functions effectively.

Scope of the study

This research focuses on the relationship between school facilities on students‘ academic performances in secondary schools in Ifedore local government area. In doing this, The research is narrowed to public secondary school to enable the researcher minimize the cost of covering a large area as an individual researcher, and to enable the researcher conduct a meaningful study within the short possible time as permitted for this Programme of study.