THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL CLIMATE ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN AHOADA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE

OPUWARI ONISOFIEN STANLEY
Abstract
This study was conducted in order to determine the school organizational climate and it’s impact
on the academic performance of pupils in primary schools in Ahoada-West Local Government
Area of Rivers State and the influence of healthy school climate on pupils academic
performance. The population of the study comprised all the 850 classroom teachers and
18,350.00 pupils of Primary Schools in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State
out of which a sample of 520 teachers and 10,620 pupils of primary five and six was drawn. The
data collected from both teachers and pupils were statistically analyzed in simple single
percentage system. The research instrument used was questionnaire for both teachers and
pupils. Oral interview and observation of both school and classroom atmosphere was also used.
The results of findings showed that the leadership style had influence on school effectiveness,
school organizational climate had influence on pupils academic performance, there is a
significant difference between academic performance of pupils in open school climate and
academic performance in closed school climate. The study concluded by coming up with some
recommendations.
Keywords: academic performance ,impact, school climate

Introduction
In recent times, there has been a huge cry from all and sundry that the nation standard of
education has fallen. Commentaries on educational literature, government reports, school reports,
personal views and commentaries over the radios and television relating to education have all
given cognizance to the falling standard of education and the factors responsible for this
phenomena, the yardstick for measurement of this trend has been mainly the general poor
performance of pupils in academic work in the school system. Many factors have been assumed to
be contributing to the poor performance of children in academic work in the school system
resulting to the fallen standard of education. Some of the identified factors are: teachers’ attitude to
work as a responsive behavior to government policies, methods of teaching, lack of teaching
materials and equipment, learning patterns and behavior of children, parents’ attitude and
behavior towards their children and teachers and many others.