The Influence of Class-Size on the Quality of Output in Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria
T.O. Adeyemi Department of Educational Foundations & Management, University of Ado-Ekiti, P. M. B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
Abstract: This paper examined the influence of class-size on the quality of output in secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The population of the study comprised all the 141 secondary schools that presented students for the year 2003 SSC examinations in the State. A sample of 120 schools was selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through an inventory and were analysed with the use of chi square test, correlation analysis and t- test. Semi-structured interview was conducted with selected principals and education officers. Their responses were analysed through the content analysis technique. The findings revealed that schools having an average class-size of 35 and below obtained better results in the Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) examinations than schools having more than 35 students per class. The mean scores were higher in schools having an average class-size of 35 and below. The interviewees’ responses supported the findings as they supported small class-sizes in schools. It was therefore recommended that Government should provide more classrooms in all secondary schools in the State to cater for small class-sizes. Key words: Missing INTRODUCTION Class-size is an educational tool that can be used to describe the average number of students per class in a school. Hoffman [1] described it as the number of students per teacher in a class. Kedney [2] saw it as a tool that can be used to measure the performance of the education system. In relation to size, Stepaniuk [3] reported that the rational
