Schools’ Records: A Deficiency Analysis of English Language Exercises in Public Schools

Abstract

This paper examines students’ records of English language exercises in public schools in Rivers State,
Nigeria. Students’ record shows classroom practices or interaction between teachers and students as it
relates to the implementation of the national policy on education. Students and teachers in public
secondary school constitute the population of this study. Data for the study was got through content
analysis of 30 English language notes from 30 students in five secondary schools in Rivers State. Structured
interview was also used to elicit data from 15 English language teachers and 72 students in public
secondary schools to corroborate the students’ record. Simple frequency and percentage are used for data
analysis. Based on the findings, the paper reveals amongst others that students’ lacks as a result of the
quality of language instruction is majorly responsible for students’ proneness to examination malpractices
and mass failure in English language in NECO and WAEC. The paper recommends the provision of an
optimal learning environment for language learning as well as the use of a good supervisory technique to
ensure instructional quality in language arts in public schools in Rivers State.