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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue I, January 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

Teachers’ Attitude as a Correlate of Students’

Academic Performance
Ekperi, Paul Madukwe*1, Ude Onwuka2, Wike Young Nyejirime3
1
Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
2
Center for Environmental Management & Control, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
3
Department of Human Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: - The classroom climate which is often times set by the foster the climate among the students. Teachers who respond
teacher is determined by the teacher’s attitude. Attitude as a favorably to differences among students in style, personality,
major determinant of a person’s behavior influences the way a independence, capability or motivation, are good models for
teacher relates with the students and thus affects students’ other teachers and for students (Johnson, 2009; Brookfield,
academic performance. The study examined teacher’s attitude as
2006; Mitchell, 1976).
a correlate of students’ academic performance in geography.
Descriptive survey design was adopted and a sample size of four Formal education at secondary school level is a very
hundred selected from a population of nine hundred and sixty- important determinant of the quality and quantity of intake
eight using the Taro Yamane sample size formula. Two research into tertiary level of education. This is why the teaching of
questions and a research hypothesis were proposed in line with
the study objectives. Average Mean Score was used to analyze
geography should be taking very serious at this level.
responses for the research questions while Multiple Regression Geography as an essential field in every human endeavors
Analysis was used to test the research hypotheses. The findings consists of knowledge of the world around us. It goes from
show that attitude of teachers correlated positively and studying the physical environment we live in to studying
significantly with students’ academic performance. Poor interactions that goes on within this environment. According
government attitude to teachers, lack of job satisfaction, poor to Ekperi (2018), geography as a vast field of study should be
remuneration and delayed salary, students’ learning interest and taught by a highly qualified and skilled teacher. He further
absence of teaching materials/instructional aid were found to noted that most students find geography, especially physical
influence the attitude of teachers. The paper strongly geography difficult and uninteresting because the teacher fails
recommends among others thatsalaries and remuneration of
teachers should be paid as at when due; teachers should go
to arouse their interest for the subject.
beyond Instruction and focus on the interpersonal aspects of It’s been established that a good classroom strategy requires
teaching; constant in-service training should be provided for full interest and support from the teacher. If a teacher appears
teachers and also provision should be made for teachers to
not interested or careful about a particular subject or student,
attend educational conferences both locally and internationally
as this would help them grow on the job.
he/she will be unable to foster a supportive learning
environment. Furthermore, teachers with negative attitudes
may not be as approachable to students as teachers who are
I. INTRODUCTION
positively motivated. So, students find it difficult asking such
ccording to Keith Harrell (1998), “attitude is
A everything”. It affects and influences a person’s
behaviour which in turn affects performance. It often involves
a teacher questions on the grey areas of the subject he/she
teaches. Once this is the case, students begin to lose interest in
the subject and learning generally, which ultimately affects
feelings, opinions and dispositions which affects behaviour. their academic performance negatively.
How successful a person is in achieving his or her set goals is
Statement of Problem
a function of the person’s attitude. A teacher’s attitude to
teaching will certainly affect his or her performance in the Given the myriads of environmental issues plaguing the world
classroom. Attitude is about emotions and feelings, and today, the need for massive environmental awareness has
effective teachers willingly share emotions and feelings (i.e., become paramount. Among the subjects taught at the
enthusiasm, affection, patience, sadness, disapproval) as well secondary school level, geography is the only subject that
as a sincere interest and care about their students. elaborately exposes students to his or her environment.
Several studies have reported poor student enrolment in the
Studies have shown that the group climate in a classroom is
basic geography courses in the institutions of higher learning.
almost always set by the teacher. Some classes exhibit
This problem has been associated with poor teaching of
friendliness and cooperation while others are notable for
geography in at the secondary schools. While some studies
jealousy, unhealthy competition, or hostility. When either
have argued that the unavailability of qualified geography
situation occurs, the teacher is almost always contributing to
teachers in terms of certification is the main cause of the
the climate by direct modeling and through behaviors which

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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue I, January 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

problem, some other argue that the nonchalant and uncaring schools in the Rift valley province of Kenya, inspectors of
attitude of geography teachers account for the problem. schools in districts where economics was being offered and
teachers from the schools where the subject was offered. A
Ekperi (2018) observed that the performance of students in
total of 187 students, 32 teachers and 4 district inspectors took
external exams has continually showed a downward trend in
part. Data was collected from the sample using questionnaire.
geography. The results from the West African Examination
The data collected was analyzed using Excel software
Council (WAEC) showed a failure rate of 44.07% in 2000,
program. Basic statistical techniques were used to analyze
43.02% in 2001, 42.6% in 2002, 33.0% in 2003 and in 2014
various items in the questionnaire. These include calculating
only 29.27% pass was recorded, indicating a 70.73% failure
the averages frequencies, percentages and totals. These
rate. The WAEC result of 2015 showed that less than 42.6%
statistical techniques were used to make comparisons in the
of the students who registered and sat for the examination
various data collected. The study concludes that teachers
passed geography (WAEC, 2015).
have a positive attitude towards the subject, thus, poor
Given the overwhelming influence teachers have on students performance could be attributed to other factors other than
and how teachers’ attitude shape and determine the classroom teacher attitudes.
climate, this study therefore investigates how teachers’
The study conducted by Mwangi (1983) focused on
attitude affect students’ academic performance in geography
identifying some of the factors which influence learning and
subject using the students’ terminal examination result as a
achievement in secondary mathematics in Kenya. The teacher
measure for academic performance. The study also
and student characteristics were studied. Among the teacher
investigated the factors responsible for the attitude of teachers.
characteristics investigated by this study, only three were
Research Questions found to be related to achievements in KCE mathematics
where two were positively related and one was negatively
1. What is the relationship between teachers’ attitude
related. The variables that showed positive relationship were
and students’ academic performance in geography? sex of the teachers. Students taught by male teachers tended
2. What are the factors responsible for teachers’ to score higher to KCE than those taught by female teacher. It
attitude?
would appear that the sex of the teachers of economics has
Research Hypothesis some bearing in the performance of students in economics.
Negative teachers’ attitude towards mathematics teaching was
Ho: There is no significant between teachers’ attitude and correlated with low achievement in KCE mathematics. The
students’ academic performance in geography remaining teacher characteristics such as time spent on lesson
preparation, team teaching, group work, professional
II. LITERATURE REVIEW qualification, in service training, teaching experience,
Influence of Teachers’ Attitude on Students’ Academic frequency of supervision and the use of teaching aids showed
Performance no relationship to achievement in mathematics.
Studies have shown that teachers exert enormous influence on Akinfe, Olofimiyi, and Fashiky (2012) studied teacher
students and thus determine to a very large extent their characteristics as predictor of academic performance of
academic performance. Several authors argue in favour of students in Osun State. The study used a survey design in
teacher qualification, teaching methods, communication skills, investigating the perception of SS3 students on teacher
gender and age as the main teacher characteristics that characteristics in relation to students’ academic performance.
determine students’ academic performance. While these Using purposive sampling, 16 secondary schools were
factors are considered very crucial, this paper considers selected (10 public and 6 private) and 100 SS3 students
teachers’ attitude as an indisputable determinant of students’ randomly drawn from each school giving a sample size of
academic performance since “attitude is everything” (Harrell, 1600 students. Questionnaire tagged “teachers”
1998). Some studies have found a correlation between characteristics and students’ academic performance (TCSAP)
teachers’ attitude and students' interest in learning. Moreover, was used to elicit information. Data were analyzed using
personality traits of the teachers are more powerful and percentages. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi-
influential than the course content or instructional strategies square were used to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings
used in the classroom. reveal that students’ academic performance correlate
positively and significantly depending on teachers’ attitude to
The study conducted by Kurgat and Gordon (2014) on the teaching and learning in the classroom; knowledge of subject
effects of teacher characteristics and attitudes on student matter and teaching skills.
achievement in KCSE economics examination adopted a field
based survey. The study was conducted in secondary schools Hooley and Jones (2006) also conducted a study on “The
offering economics in eh Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Influence of Teachers’ Attitude on Student Performance in a
Simple Purposive Sampling was used to get the representative Programmed Learning Situation”. The study was aimed at
sample for the study. The representative sample constituted establishing whether or not instructor attitude influenced
all the fourth form students o economics in all he secondary student performance when learning a program. A

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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue I, January 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

mathematics program was presented to three matched groups The population of the study consists of the students offering
of students. They were given an introduction to their task in geography together with the geographer teachers from three
such a way that one group felt that the instructor was selected schools. The total number of students is nine hundred
favourably disposed towards programmed instruction, the and fifty-nine (959) while the number of geography teachers
second group felt that the instructor was neither favourable is nine (9), given a total of nine hundred and sixty-eight (968).
nor unfavourably disposed to programmed instruction and the
Stratified sampling method was used to divide the public
third group felt that the instructor was not favourably disposed
secondary schools in the area into Boys’ school, Girls’ School
to programmed instruction. Analysis of variance between the
and mixed school. One school each was randomly selected
groups indicated that no significant differences existed
from each of the strata, making it a total of three schools. A
between the groups in respect to their achievement, as
sample size of four hundred was selected from the study
measured by a criterion test administered at the end of the
population using the Taro Yamane Formula. Four hundred
program.
copies of questionnaire were distributed to each of the three
Shittu and Oanite (2015) in their study on Teachers’ Attitudes: schools based on their percentage contribution to the study
A Great Influence on Teaching and Learning of Social Studies population.
Students’ attitude towards Social Studies outlined poor
3.3 Instrument for Data collection
government attitude, lack of job satisfaction, poor
remuneration and delayed salary as factors that affects The study adopted a four-point structured Likert scale
teacher’s attitude. questionnaire of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree
(D) and Strongly Disagree (SD).
III. METHODS
3.4 Method of Data Analysis
The study adopted descriptive survey which is appropriate in
gathering data that describe events and then organizes, Mean rating (X) was used to analyze the responses gotten
tabulates, depicts, and describes the data collection. from the research questions. The result was accepted when X
≥ 2.5 and rejected when it’s less. The study hypothesis was
3.1 Area of the study
tested using Multiple Regression Analytical Technique at a
The study was carried out in Enugu North Local Government p<0. 005. The null hypothesis was rejected when p<0.005 and
Area which is one of the local government areas that make up the alternate hypothesis accepted.
Enugu. This area is known for its relatively high concentration
of public secondary schools. IV. RESULTS
3.2 Population and sampling technique Research Question 1:
Table 4.1: Mean rating of the relationship between teacher’s attitude and students’ academic performance

MEAN
S/N ITEMS SA A D SD DECISION
X

Teachers who are always absent from class hardly cover their
1. 125 106 100 69 2.9 Accept
syllable

Students find more interest in Geography when there is a good

2. 168 176 43 13 3.4 Accept
rapport between them and the teacher

Students perform poorly in Geography exams when the teacher

3. 207 112 65 16 3.6 Accept
is not friendly and approachable

Students perform poorly in Geography exams under a teacher

4. 152 138 70 40 3.0 Accept
who abuses them on every slight issue.

Students perform poorly when the teacher does not show deep
5. 112 100 106 82 2.6 Accept
interest in the subject he/she teaches

Source: Field study, 2017

From table 4.1 above, items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 has a mean score Research question 2: What are the factors responsible for
rating of 2.9, 3.4, 3.6, 3.0 and 2.6 above the criterion mean of teachers’ attitude?
2.5. This shows a relationship between teacher’s attitude to
work and students’ academic performance.

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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue I, January 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

Table 4.2: Mean rating of the relationship between teacher’s attitude and students’ academic performance
MEAN
S/N ITEMS SA A D SD DECISION
X
Poor government attitude to teachers affects teachers
1. 168 176 43 13 3.4 Accept
attitude negatively
2. lack of job satisfaction affects teachers attitude 106 99 104 91 2.5 Accept
poor remuneration and delayed salary affects teacher’s
3. 134 122 100 44 2.7 Accept
attitude
4. Students’ learning interest affect teacher’s attitude 98 102 122 78 2.5 Accept
Absence of teaching materials/instructional aid affect
5. 98 102 122 78 2.5 Accept
teacher’s attitude
6. the sex and age of a teacher affects his/her attitude 94 102 99 105 2.4 Reject

Source: Field study, 2017

From table 2 above, items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 has a mean score attitude. Furthermore, sex and age of teacher was found not to
rating of 3.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.5 and 2.5 above the criterion mean of influence teacher’s attitude.
2.5. This shows that poor government attitude to teachers,
Test of Research Hypothesis:
lack of job satisfaction, poor remuneration and delayed salary,
students’ learning interest and absence of teaching There is no significant relationship between teacher’s attitude
materials/instructional aid are factors that influence teacher’s and student’s academic performance in geography.

Table 4.3: Regression analysis of the relationship between teacher’s attitude to work and students’ academic performance

Model Summary
Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate
1 .865a .0.748 .594 7.68409

ANOVAa
Model Sum of Squares Df Mean Square F Sig.
Regression 60.025 3 20.008 42.825 0.000b
1 Residual 157.594 38 4.147
Total 217.619 41

Table 4.3 shows the statistical relationship between teacher’s Hooley and Jones (2006) and Kurgat and Gordon (2014) in
attitude and student’s academic performance in geography their respective studies that poor performance of students
termly exams. The table shows that the independent variable could be attributed to other factors other than teacher
with a multiple correlation coefficient (R) of 0.865 and a attitudes.
multiple adjusted R Square of 0.594 accounted for 59.4% of
Concerning the factors that affect teacher’s attitude, poor
the variance in the student’s academic performance. The
government attitude to teachers, lack of job satisfaction, poor
dependent variable correlated significantly positive with the
remuneration and delayed salary, students’ learning interest
independent variable.
and absence of teaching materials/instructional aid were found
With an F-statistics of 42.825 and a p-value of 0.000 (<0.005), to influence teacher’s attitude. This is supported the work of
the result shows a statistical significance between the Shittu and Oanite (2015) where the authors maintained that
independent and dependent variable. these factors shape teachers’ attitude in the teaching of social
studies subject. However, sex and age of teachers was found
V. CONCLUSION not to influence their attitude. This agrees with the position of
Afolabi (2015) that gender of a teacher does not affect
Findings from the results of research question one and the
teaching and student’s performance.
study hypothesis shows a positive and significant relationship
between teacher’s attitude and student’s academic Based on the above findings, the study thus recommends that:
performance. This finding agrees strongly with the assertion
1. The government should budget and invest more in
made by Harrell (1998) that “attitude is everything” and
education, especially in the area of teacher’s welfare,
Akinfe et al (2012), Afolabi (2009), Mwangi (1983) whose
provision of teaching materials and instructional aid.
studies established a positive and significant relationship
2. Government at all levels should change her
between the dependent and independent variables. However,
nonchalant attitude to teachers and the teaching
the finding seem to differ with the conclusion made by
profession as it has grave implication on the nation’

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International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume III, Issue I, January 2019|ISSN 2454-6186

3. Government should embark on time to time and [2]. Akinfe, E., Olofimiyi, O. E., and Fashiky, C.O. (2012).Teachers’
quality as correlates of students‟ academic performance in
proper monitoring and evaluation of teachers to
Biology in senior secondary schools in Ondo state,
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JosseyBass.
4. The salaries and remuneration of teachers should be
[4]. Ekperi, P M (2018).Impact of Teacher Characteristics on
paid as when due. Non-payment of teacher’s salaries Students’Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools.
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5. Teachers should constantly create a friendly
to Turning Attitude into Action. HarperCollins: New York City,
environment in the classroom as this will help to stir New York, United States.
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Technology.Taylor and Francis, 7(2).
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