International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Determinants of Academic Performance of In-School Adolescents in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Rhoda Tekwi Peter
Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja.

Abstract: Adolescence is the period following the onset of puberty during which physical and psychological occur. In-school adolescent academic performance can be determined by factors such as peer pressure, learning environment and home background. Peer pressure is commonly associated with episodes of adolescent risk taking (such as delinquency, drug abuse, sexual behaviours), because this behaviour commonly occurs in the company of peers. It can also have positive effects when youth are pressured by the peer toward positive behaviour. The interaction of various characteristics of school and classroom climate can create a support that enables all members of the school community not only to learn but also to teach at optimum levels. Nevertheless, a negative school climate interferes with learning and development and can affect academic performance of in-school adolescents. A functioning family is beneficial to a child than a dysfunctional one. Family separation was a great contributor of child neglect which generally leads to child deviant behavior. For example, leaving home and addicted to vices and the like from parental and family neglect, lack of supervision and guidance, lack of supervision and the absence of close relationships between teenager and his or her parents are factors that influence delinquency and poor academic performance.It is obvious that secondary schools should have guidance services with a competent counsellor to counsel students from broken homes, child raised by single parent and parents who do not pay adequate attention to their children and wards’ education and those students experiencing challenges in schools; and peer pressure.

Keywords: In-school adolescents, determinants, peer pressure, learning environment, home background and academic performance.

I. INTRODUCTION

Obidoa, and Ifelunni (2010) stated that adolescence is the period when the individual no longer depends on parents to take decisions. At this stage the individual can think about his personal ideas and handle such ideas. The individual is able to perform the following mental functions – logical reasoning, abstract thinking, increased understanding, ability to generalize facts and increased independent decision among others. From the foregoing definitions and opinions, it is obvious that adolescence refers to that period of the life span of an individual when the physiological and even sociological processes are in transition between puberty and maturity. It is the bridge between the life as a child and the life as an adult which gives the individual the opportunity to start dropping childhood behaviours and start learning the adult life style. During adolescence, new language variations, new values, standards of dress, taste in popular culture (Music, sports and films), and new interpersonal allegiances develop. Children