Research Journal of Recent Sc iences ______ ______________________________ ______ ____ ___ ISSN 2277 - 2502 Vol. 4 ( I YS C - 201 5 ), 1 14 - 117 (201 5 ) Res. J. Recent . Sci. International Science Congress Association 114 A Study on School Environment in Relation to Academic Achievement of Higher Secondary School Students B. Sivakumar and T. Malliga Vellalar College of Education for Women, Maruthi Nagar, Thindal, Erode.12., Tamil Nadu State, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in , www.isca.me Received 3 rd July 201 5 , revised 9 th August 20 1 5 , accepted 7 th September 20 1 5 Abstract In the view of Vivekananda, “Education is the manifestation of perfection al ready existed in man”. The position at higher secondary level is still worse than any other class, because the marks in the higher secondary course decide the future of th e child. Admissions to professional courses are lost for some students failing to sec ure an additional 0.1% mark. So, students at this cadre are considered to be the mark producing machines rather than a human. Due to the want of marks and get admission in better courses in better colleges, parents and students in higher secondary class us ually run after the books and coaching centers to secure good marks. Survey method is used for the study . Stratified random sampling technique was used. 300 samples were collected from 6 schools in Tiruppur District. Sample Consists of students studying XI Standard in Tiruppur District. Keywords : Environment, relation, academic achievement, stratified random sampling and survey method . Introduction In the view of Vivekananda, “Education is the manifestation of perfection already existed in man”. Educati on is the complete development of individuality of the child, so that he can make his original contribution to human life according to his best capacity. The position at higher secondary level is still worse than any other class, because the marks in the h igher secondary course decide the future of the child. Admissions to professional courses are lost for some students failing to secure an additional 0.1% mark 1 . So, students at this cadre are considered to be the mark producing machines rather than a human . Due to the want of marks and get admission in better courses in better colleges, parents and students in higher secondary class usually run after the books and coaching centers to secure good marks. Statement of the Problem : The literacy rate was very l ow and the awareness on education among people was also insignificant. Schools in India were limited and situated in main town’s only 2 . Those days majority of the schools were run and maintained by the Government, Local bodies and a few private organizatio ns with insufficient infrastructure. Later on the government decided to improve the literacy rate of the counter and education was linked with job market. The awareness on education has been raised off - late and parents preferred to educate their children i n the schools where their wards can attain good academic records. Hence a study is needed to find out the relationship between the environment of the school and the academic performance of the child 3 . Hence the investigator has chosen the title as “A study on school Environment in relation to Academic Achievement of Higher Secondary school students in Tiruppur District”. Objectives of the Study : i. The study the level of school Environment score of school students is moderate. ii. To find out whether there is any significant difference between the demographic variables Table - 1 Demographic Variables Gender wise Male Female School wise Government School Govt. Aided School, Management School Locality wise Rural Urban Academic achievement wise Governm ent school Govt. Aided school Management school Academic Achievement with locality wise Rural Urban iii. To find out whether there is any relationship between the school Environment score and Academic Achievement. Research Journal of Recent Sciences ______ _ _ _______________________________ ______________ _ ________ ISSN 2277 - 2502 Vol. 4 ( I YS C - 201 5 ), 1 14 - 117 (201 5 ) Res. J. Recent. Sci. International Science Congress Association 115 Hypotheses of the Study : i. The l evel of school Environment score of school students is moderate. ii. There is no significant difference between the demographic variables Table - 2 Demographic Variables Gender wise Male Female School wise Government School Govt. Aided School, Managem ent School Locality wise Rural Urban Type of school Wise Government School Govt. Aided school Management school Academic achievement scores in the Locality wise Rural Urban iii. There is no relationship between the school environment score and academic achievement. Methodology Survey method is used for the study. The researcher selected the Questionnaire method to collect data from the samples. Stratified random sampling technique was used by the investigator. 300 samples were collected from 6 schools in Tiruppur District. Sample Consists of students studying XI Standard in Tiruppur District. Tool Used : 5 point scale Questionnaire has been prepared by the investigator. It consists of 75 Questionnaire. After pilot study, 50 items are selected f or the final study. The tool has the reliability Co - efficient value of 0.86 the tool was administered properly for the final study. After collection of data analysis was done by using, mean standard deviation, critical ratio and correlation. Results and D iscussion Analysis and Interpretation : From the table - 3 it is very clear that the school Environment score of school students is Moderate. Hence, the hypothesis is accepted. From the table - 4 , Since the calculate’t’ value 2.044 is greater than the table v alue (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is a significant difference between in the school Environment score in the boys and girls students. Hence, the null hypothesis is rejected From the table - 4 , Since the calculated ‘t’ va lue 1.65 is less than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is no significant difference between in the school Environment score in the Government and Government Aided students. Hence, the null hypothesis is acce pted. From the table - 4 , since the calculated ‘t’ value 1.635 is less than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is no significant difference between in the school environment score in the Government and Matricul ation students. Hence, null hypothesis is accepted. From the table - 4 , since the calculated ‘t’ value 0.089 is less than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is no significant difference between in the school En vironment score in the Government Aided and Matriculation students. Hence, null hypothesis is accepted. From the table - 4 , Since the calculated ‘t’ value 1.98 is greater than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is no significant difference between in the school Environment score in the Rural and Urban students. Hence, null hypothesis is rejected. Table - 3 The tables shows the level of school environment score of school students Variable Number Percentage High 100 33.33 Middle 130 43.33 Low 70 23.33 Research Journal of Recent Sciences ______ _ _ _______________________________ ______________ _ ________ ISSN 2277 - 2502 Vol. 4 ( I YS C - 201 5 ), 1 14 - 117 (201 5 ) Res. J. Recent. Sci. International Science Congress Association 116 Table - 4 Comparison of school Environment means score in boys and girls students Variables Number Mean S.D 't' value Level of significance Boys 175 179.51 15.64 2.044 Significant Girls 125 175.92 14.52 Gov ernment 110 176.23 15.11 1.65 Not Significant Government Aided 90 179.82 15.47 Government 110 176.23 15.11 1.635 Not Significant Matriculation 100 179.67 15.45 Government Aided 90 179.82 15.47 0.089 Not Significant Matriculation 100 179.62 1 5.45 Rural 180 180.08 15.85 1.98 significant Urban 120 176.35 16.04 Table - 5 Comparison of Academic Achievement in Boys and Girls school students Variables Number Mean S.D 't' value Level of significance Boys 175 136.69 33.106 4.59 Significant Girls 125 117.20 38.2 Government 110 137.91 33.72 0.11 Not Significant Government Aided 90 137.34 34.06 Government 110 137.91 33.72 0.82 Not Significant Matriculation 100 134.11 33.19 Government Aided 90 137.34 34.06 .066 Not Significant Matriculation 100 134.11 33.19 Rural 180 124.56 36.96 2.37 Significant Urban 120 134.64 35.38 From the table - 5 , since the calculated‘t’ value 4.59 is greater than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is significant difference between in the Boys and Girls students. Hence, the null hypothesis is rejected. From the table - 5 , since the calculated‘t’ value 0.11 is less than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significances. It is conducted that there is no significant difference between in the Government and Government Aided students. Hence, null hypothesis is accepted. From the table - 5 , since the calculated‘t’ value 0.82 is less than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is condu cted that there is no significant difference between in the Government and Matriculation school students. Hence, null hypothesis is accepted. From the table - 5 , since the calculated‘t’ value .066 is less than the table value (1.96) at 0.05% level of signif icance. It is conducted that there is no significant difference between in the Government Aided and Matriculation school students. Hence, null hypothesis is accepted. From the table - 5 , since the calculated ‘t’ value 2.37 is less greater than the table val ue (1.96) at 0.05% level of significance. It is conducted that there is significant difference between in the Rural and Urban school students. Hence, null hypothesis is rejected. Findings of the Study : i. It is inferred that there is no significant differ ence in the school Environment score of school students is moderate. ii. There is no significant difference between in the school Environment score in the gender, management and locality. iii. There is no significant difference between the school environme nt score and Academic Achievement in gender, management and locality. iv. There is no relationship between the school Environment score and Academic Achievement. Research Journal of Recent Sciences ______ _ _ _______________________________ ______________ _ ________ ISSN 2277 - 2502 Vol. 4 ( I YS C - 201 5 ), 1 14 - 117 (201 5 ) Res. J. Recent. Sci. International Science Congress Association 117 Recommendations : i. It is recommended that the infrastructural facilities enhance the achieve ment of the students hence school infrastructure may be equipped to provide a conductive teaching learning situation. ii. It is recommended that the teaching learning of the school may be improved to attain the expected achievement among students. iii. It is recommended that the extra - curricular activities may be increased to enhance the inter - personal relatives among learners. Conclusion A research activity in specific area is just the beginning of the exploration of the unidentified treasures in that are a. Therefore the present study has exposed up new horizons in the school environment such as physical facilities, infrastructural facilities, teaching - learning evaluation, and extra - curricular activities 4 . May the school authorities concerned will revisi t the present environments of the school and restructure it and the basis of the demands raised by the students. Let us be optimist. References 1. Broussard S.C. and Garrison M.E., The relationship between classroom motivation and academic achievement in elem entary school – aged children (2004) 2. Yoloye E.A., Causes of poor Academic Performance in Northern Nigeria. A Monograph. Institute of Education, University of Ibadan , Ibadan (1976) 3. Holt C.R., Critical factors that affect the passage of school bond elections . School Business Affairs, 60(8), 33 - 37 (1994) 4. McGuffey C.W. and Walberg H.J., Facilities in improving educational standards and productivity ( 237 - 281 ). Berkley, California: University of Illinois, (1982)