Influence of Self-efficacy on Academic Competence of Secondary School Students in Osun State

Abstract

The study ascertained the level of academic competence of secondary school students in Osun State and also determined level of self-efficacy of the students. It investigated the influence of self-efficacy on the students’ academic competence. These were with a view to providing information on factor that could influence the academic competence of secondary school students. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised senior secondary school students in Osun State. The sample size comprised 600 respondents, selected using multistage sampling technique. One Local Government Area (LGA) was selected from each of the three senatorial districts in the State using simple random sampling technique. From each LGA, four senior secondary schools were selected using simple random sampling technique (12 schools in all) and from each school, 50 students were selected from senior secondary II using simple random sampling technique. Three instruments were used to collect information for the study, namely: Academic Competence Evaluation Scale (ACES), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Data collected were analyzed using percentages and ANOVA. The results showed that 9.41%, 60.21% and 30.37% of secondary school students in Osun State demonstrated low, moderate and high levels of academic competence respectively. The results of the study also indicated that there was a significant positive influence of self-efficacy on academic competence of the students (F =69.35; p<0.05). The study concluded that self-efficacy influenced academic competence of secondary school students in Osun State.