EFFECT OF CLASS SIZE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES AMONG PUPILS OF SELECTED PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The introduction of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Nigeria in 1999 led to an expansion in primary school enrollment rates, including in Zaria, Kaduna. This study investigates the impact of class size on the academic performance of primary school pupils in Social Studies. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The population of the study consisted of 193 primary 6 pupils purposively selected from four public primary schools in Zaria. A self-formulated Social Studies Performance Test (SPT) was designed and used for data collection. The test was piloted in schools not included in the study, resulting in a reliability index of 0.72. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research question, while a t-test was used to test the hypotheses. The mean results obtained for pupils in normal class size and large class size were 13.45 and 7.10, respectively. The results indicated a significant difference in academic performance between pupils taught in large and normal class sizes in Social Studies, with pupils in normal classes performing better. The study concludes that normal class size is more effective in impacting knowledge and results in better academic performance of pupils in Social Studies. The study recommends that the government should control school enrollment by ensuring that pupils are admitted based on the recommendations outlined in the National Policy on Education 2013.