Student-Teacher Ratio, Parental Education and Academic Outcomes in Basic Science in Selected Local Government Area of Oyo State

The study analyzed the student-teacher ratio, parental education and academic outcomes in basic science in selected Local Government Area of Oyo State. An expost facto research design was employed using 258 students selected from three Local Governments Area of Oyo State through a purposive sampling technique across nine schools, three schools each in each Local Government Area of Oyo State. In each school, 43 male and female students were involved in the study making a total of 86 Basic Science Students in each school. Basic Science Performance Test (BSPT) was used to obtain data which was scored in percentage with the difference in student-teacher ratio per school. Multiple regression statistical tools were used for data to test the hypotheses at Þ 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that there were significant’ relationship between the student’s academic outcome in Basic Science and the student-teacher ratio and parents’ year of schooling (t=0.001, p<0.05), that is both independent variables can jointly predict the academic outcomes of learners with parents’ years of schooling showing more significant effect than student-teacher ratio. The findings established the immense value of the student-teacher ratio and parents’ years of schooling to the schools, stakeholders, and government. It was recommended that educational planners and policy makers pay prompt attention to this student-teacher ratio issue, sticking to the proper implementation of UNESCO of 25-26:1 and National Policy on Education recommendations which suggested 30 students per teacher in all schools among others. Keywords: Students-Teacher Ratio, Parent Years of Schooling, Academic Outcomes, Basic Science