FACTORS AFFECTING FEMALE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OYIGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE: IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

Abstract

This study examined the factors that affect females' academic achievement in government secondary schools in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The design adopted for the study was the descriptive survey. The target population for the study consisted of all the teachers and parents in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Purposive sampling method was used to choose 10 secondary schools, of which 13 teachers were randomly chosen from each school and 7 parents within the school environment. The sampling size thereby constituted 200 respondents. The data collected were analyzed with frequency distribution, descriptive statistics and Independent sample test (IST). Hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significant levels. The findings revealed that many factors affect females' academic achievement in government secondary schools in Oyigbo Local Government area of Rivers State. The challenges faced by females in their pursuit of education in secondary schools in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State are numerous. There are many ways of reducing the factors militating against females ‘education in secondary schools in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. The results also show that there is no significant difference between male and female and between teachers and parents on the factors affecting females' academic achievement in secondary schools in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Rivers State. It was recommended among others that Government should provide the enabling environment for learning. Facilities like laboratories, libraries, sporting equipment, adequate number of teachers, academic requirements among others. School counsellors should invite and visit parents regularly to foster their interest in children education.