TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE CAUSES OF STUDENTS’ LOW ENROLMENT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSICS IN OYO-NORTH, NIGERIA

Abstract

Despite the significant contribution of physics to modern society, a decline in physics enrollment has

been observed over the years. This study specifically investigated the reasons behind students’ low

enrollment in Physics. The objectives focused on exploring the impact of teachers’ qualifications and

gender on their perceptions of the causes of this low enrollment in senior school physics in Oyo-North,

Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey research design, utilizing a self-designed

questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.89. A convenient sampling technique was used to gather

responses from 170 physics teachers across 172 senior secondary schools in Oyo-North. Data analysis

included percentages, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square tests. The findings identified various

causes for the low enrollment, such as students' interest, insufficient physics textbooks, inadequate

physics laboratories, the mathematical nature of physics, poorly equipped physics labs, and parental

influence. The study found no significant difference in the perceptions between qualified and

unqualified physics teachers regarding the causes of students’ low enrollment, nor was there a

significant difference between male and female physics teachers. Ultimately, the study concluded that

teachers’ qualifications and gender had no bearing on physics teachers’ perceptions of the causes

behind students’ low physics enrollment in senior secondary schools. The recommendations included

concerted efforts by educational stakeholders to enhance physics enrollment by providing adequate

textbooks, well-equipped laboratories, and other resources to foster student interest and prevent the

decline of physics in senior secondary schools in Oyo-North, Nigeria.