TEACHERS’ CHARACTERISTICS AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOLOGY

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Teachers’ characteristics on students’ academic achievement in Biology, in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used in this study.  All secondary school Biology teachers and Biology students in Ibadan metropolis formed the population of the study.  Random sampling technique was used for selecting 200 Biology teachers and 200 Biology students from randomly selected schools.  Expert judgments were used to ensure face and content validity of the instruments.  The reliability coefficients of the instruments were 0.78 and 0.83 for Teachers’ Questionnaire and Biology Achievement Test respectively using test re-test method and cronbach alpha. Data were analysed using percentages, multiple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 0.5 level of significance. The result showed that teachers’ characteristics significantly influenced students’ academic achievement (F=31.851, P<0.05). It was therefore recommended that a proper teacher education reform that will concentrate on the standards a teacher must possess before teaching or going into teaching profession be enforced.