Examination of Learning Difficulties on Students Academic Performancein Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines learning difficulties on student’s academic performance in higher education institutions in Nigeria. One research question and one hypothesis guided this study. Population of this study is 8,000 which comprised 4,500 males and 5,500 female students of Imo state select 40 male students in two departments. On the other hand, 45 female students were selected University Owerri. Sample size of this study is 170. Stratified random sampling technique was used to in two departments, which gave a total sample size of 170 staff selected as sample size.  Researcher developed questionnaire titled “examination of learning difficulties on students’academic performance in higher education institutions in Nigeria” was used, with four rating scale of strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree. The instrument was validated by two specialists in Business Education, Madonna University Nigeria, Okija Campus, Anambra State. Cronbach alpha statistics was used to determine the reliability coefficient of this study at 0.78 and 0.97, which shows that the instrument is reliable for this study. Staff responses were analyzed with the use of mean and standard deviation. Chi Square -test of independent was used to test the hypotheses. Findings from this study revealed varied effects of learning difficulties among students in Nigeria. The effects are: Difficulty in pronunciation of words, poor grades in quiz and examinations, aggression, reporting late to lectures, carefree attitudes to academics, staying isolated, laziness, troublesome, moody, unemployment after graduation among others. It was recommended from this study that government and parents of students should provide learning equipment to students with learning difficulties. This would enable students suffering from learning difficulties to overcome their learning barriers and measure up with intelligent students in higher education institutions. Also, campaigns against the use of hard drugs should be emphasized. This would help to exonerate students from use of drugs and face their studies for the sake of the future.