Comparative Study of Student Performance in NCE 1 for Three Consecutive Years: A Case Study of Chemistry Department, Federal College of Education, Zaria (2012/13 – 2014/15)

Abstract

This study compared the performance of the Chemistry students of Federal College of Education Zaria (2012/13 – 2014/15) to investigate the relative performance in carry-over courses with those students taking the course afresh. A total of 1,671 students, comprising 1,492 students taking the three courses afresh and 179 students carrying the courses in the three years, constituted the sample size for the study. The courses investigated were CHE111, CHE113 and CHE11,4, respectively. The documented examination result were used in the study. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test statistical tools at P < 0.05, which is used in hypothesis testing. The study found out, among others, that the fresh students clearly perform better than carryover students in all the courses analysed in the three consecutive sessions. The t-test shows that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the performance of carryover students relative to the fresh students taking the course in most cases, as the t-calculated is more than the t-table for CHE 111 and 114 in both 2012/13 and 2014/15 session with CHE 113 having no significant difference. Teachers are expected to vary their teaching strategy to enhance performance in all categories of students.