HOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ADO-EKITI, EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined home environmental factors as predictors of secondary school students' academic performance in Ado-Ekiti. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, suitable for describing various aspects of home environmental factors that influence academic performance without manipulating variables. The population comprised all secondary school students in the old Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State, now consisting of one substantive Local Government and three Local Council Development Areas, with fifteen public secondary schools. A simple random sampling technique was used to select one school from each stratified zone in the Local Government Area. The sample consisted of 250 students randomly selected from all the schools and 40 teachers from five schools, with 40 students and eight teachers selected per school. Data were collected using two self-designed questionnaires: the "Home Environmental Factors Questionnaire (HEFQ)" for students and the "Secondary School Students Academic Performance Questionnaire (SSSAPQ)" for teachers. The instruments were validated by experts in Educational Management and Test and Measurement. Reliability was established using the test-retest method, resulting in coefficients of 0.78 for HEFQ and 0.82 for SSSAPQ. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Based on the findings, several recommendations were made. Parents should show special interest in their children's education by providing basic needs such as textbooks, writing materials, and ensuring the prompt payment of school fees. They should also recognize education as the most reliable and lasting legacy they can offer. These measures are essential to enhance students' academic performance, especially in the context of home-related influences.