A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SCIENCE SUBJECTS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WUDIL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of academic performance in science subjects between

private and public secondary school students in Wudil Local Government Area, Kano State,

Nigeria. The study aimed to determine the difference in students’ performance and the factors

responsible for it. An ex-post facto research design was adopted, and data were obtained

through documentary analysis of the 2022 NECO examination results and through interview

from two purposively selected schools out of 14 public and 9 private secondary school in Wudil:

Aliko Dangote Staff Secondary School (private) and Government Girls Secondary School, Wudil

(public). A total of 162 students’ results were analyzed and classified into Distinction (A1–B3),

Credit (C4–C6), Pass (D7–E8), and Fail (F9). Descriptive statistics involving frequency counts

and percentages were used for analysis. The validity and reliability of the data were ensured

through the use of official and standardized NECO examination results, which reflect students’

true academic achievement. Findings revealed that private school students recorded higher

distinctions and credits across all science subjects, while public school students had higher

failure rates, particularly in Mathematics (30.6%) and English (37.7%). The study concludes

that private schools provide a more conducive learning environment for science education, while

public schools face systemic challenges. It recommends improved resource provision, teacher

training, smaller class sizes, and enhanced home–school collaboration to boost science

performance in public secondary schools.