Pages: (74-92 )
Abstract
The non-proficiency of Nigerian students in English Language has been a major concern of the research. Therefore, the researcher probed into the causes of mass failure in English Language in senior secondary schools in Ikenne local government in Ogun state. This researcher employed the descriptive survey research design to elicit information from a cross section of the target population, Simple random sampling was used to select two hundred and seventy seven students from the population. A structured questionnaire tagged The Academic Procrastination, Drug Abuse, and Lack of Concentration Scale (APDALCS) and English Language Achievement Test (ELAT) was used to elicit information from the respondent. The ELAT contains 10 multiple-choice questions with each question having four options lettered A to D and the test-retest method of reliability assessment was used for the Academic Procrastination, Drug Abuse, and Lack of Concentration Sub-Scales of the APDALCS. Consequently, a pilot study was conducted using a sample of 30 senior secondary Class Two (SS 2) students selected from Mayflower School, Ikenne. An analysis of the scores obtained revealed test-retest reliability coefficients of .81, .74, and .77 for the Academic Procrastination, Drug Abuse, and Lack of Concentration Sub-Scales respectively. The first, second and third hypotheses was analyzed using simple linear regression analysis while the fourth hypothesis was tested by means of multiple regression analysis.
Results revealed a significant results that that academic procrastination has a significant impact on failure in English Language among students of the selected secondary schools in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State. (Beta = .221, t = 3.638, p < .05). Also, drug abuse had a significant impact on failure in English Language among students of the selected secondary schools in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State. (Beta = .236, t = 3.900, p < .05).
Lack of concentration has no significant impact on failure in English Language among students of the selected secondary schools in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.(Beta = -.021, t = -.339, p > .05).Lastly, the three predictor variables (academic procrastination, drug abuse, and lack of concentration) revealed a significant results (F(3, 258) = 7.872, p < .05).
Conclusively the Researcher made the following recommendations:
Pupils should make all necessary attempts to guide against both academic procrastination and drug abuse in order not to jeopardize their learning and academic performance in English Language.Pupils should avoid associating with bad friends or peers who can easily influence them. They should be taught that not only is drug abuse harmful to their physical health, it can harm their social and psychological or mental health as well. Therefore the dangers should be properly communicated and well-understood.
Keywords: Academic Procrastination, Drug Abuse, Lack of Concentration,academic perfomance,,