MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NATIONAL EXAMINATION BODIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research is aimed at determining the academic performance of secondary school students in National Examinations in Niger State, Nigeria, using multivariate analysis of variance. Two schools were randomly selected from each geopolitical zone of the state. The results of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSSCE) released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) for the period of ten years from 2011 to 2020 in English Language, General Mathematics and Biology were extracted from WAEC and NECO gazettes for the study. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), the test procedures for analysis are Wilks’ Lambda, Pillai Bartlett, Hotelling T2 and Roy’s Characteristic Root and each of these four procedures involves the solution of an equation to obtain the characteristic roots of the sum of squares and sum squares cross products for the appropriate source of variation. The findings revealed that there are significant differences in the academic performance of the students in the three geopolitical zones of the state and also the examination bodies (WACE and NECO). It has been concluded that the academic performance of students in national examinations affects the zones, and also the academic performance of students in NECO is better than that of WACE.