Department of Science and Technical Education, Faculty of Science and Technical Education, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Adolphus, T., Department of Science and Technical Education, Faculty of Science and Technical Education, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
This paper looks at the gender differences in enrolment and academic performance in physics among secondary school students. The study was an empirical survey conducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Seven (7) co-educational schools were selected by simple random sampling. Research instruments included records of enrolment and results of senior secondary school certificate examinations (SSCE) for five (5) years (1999-2003). Simple means, percentages and t-test were employed to analyze the data obtained from the study. Two hypotheses were formulated for the study. The results of the study showed significant difference in both enrolment and academic performance of male and female students in physics in favor of male students. It is recommended among others that government should encourage in form of scholarship the education of women in physics and science in general at higher levels. This will produce more female physics teachers, who will motivate more girls at the secondary schools to study physics. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006.