INFLUENCE OF MOTIVATION ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
ABSTRACT
Owing to the declining productivity of the teaching workforce in our educational system occasioned by teacher motivation and academic achievement crisis rocking our country evidenced in low teacher output, high teacher turnover, regular strike actions, poor pupil performance, refusal of teachers to accept postings to rural areas, irregular attendance and teacher absenteeism, there is need to undertake a study on the motivation and academic achievement measures necessary for improving and boosting the productivity of teachers in our educational system. This is what this study is all about. In doing this, teachers’ opinions were sought through the use of questionnaire administered and oral interviews. The Likert- five points scale of weighting was used in the design of the questionnaire. The aim was to identify the motivation and academic achievement measures in their order of importance. The findings show that many people at the helm of affairs in our educational system do not even understand the issue of motivation and academic achievement, not to talk of employing it as an effective tool to achieve increased productivity. The findings also show that motivation and academic achievement measures identified have varying index of importance and can be combined with other good management practices to effectively achieve the motivation and academic achievement of the teaching workforce. The study recommends more research in motivation and academic achievement issues in our educational system for effective planning geared towards improved productivity. The study is of the view that both the governments and schools’ proprietors and managements should discharge the roles expected of them in the motivation and academic achievement of the teaching workforce so as to have a vibrant and motivated workforce.