Availability and Utilization of School Library Facilities as Predictors of Academic Performance among Secondary School Students in Edo North Senatorial District, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the availability and utilization of school library facilities as predictors of academic performance among secondary school students in Edo North Senatorial District, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and one null hypothesis. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 26,371 students who registered for the 2022/2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in public secondary schools in Edo North Senatorial District. Using the Taro Yamane sample-size determination formula, a sample of 394 students was selected through a multistage sampling procedure involving proportionate and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using the Availability and Utilization of Library Facilities Checklist (AUTILFAC) and Students’ Academic Performance Inventory (SAPI). Students’ academic performance was measured using their verified 2022/2023 WASSCE results in English Language and Mathematics. The data were analysed using percentages and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis (MLRA) at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that the availability of library facilities in English Language and Mathematics was low, while the
utilization of the available library facilities was high. The regression analysis further showed that availability and utilization of library facilities made a statistically significant contribution to the prediction of students’ academic performance in English Language and Mathematics at the 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that
government and relevant education authorities should conduct periodic assessments of library facility needs and prioritize the provision, replacement and upgrading of relevant facilities in public secondary schools, particularly those supporting teaching and learning in English Language and Mathematics.