Students’ Interest and Achievement in Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools in North-Central Nigeria

This study examines students’ interest and academic achievement in Basic Science in junior secondary schools in North-Central Nigeria. A correlational survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised all Junior Secondary School II (JSS II) students offering Basic Science in public junior secondary schools in North-Central Nigeria during the 2024/2025 academic session. The study was delimited to Niger State, Nasarawa State, and the Federal Capital Territory, with a total population of 119,839 students. A sample of 383 students was selected using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size table through a multistage sampling technique to ensure proportional representation of rural and urban schools. Data were collected using the Students’ Interest in Basic Science Questionnaire (SIBSQ) and the Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT). The instruments were validated by experts and their reliability established through a pilot study. Data collection was carried out in the sampled schools with the assistance of trained research assistants. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlation, and Mann–Whitney U test at the 0.05 level of significance. Finding revealed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between students’ interest and their academic achievement in Basic Science. The study concluded that students’ interest is a critical determinant of academic achievement in Basic Science regardless of school location. It was therefore recommended that Basic Science teachers should adopt learner-centred and activity-based instructional strategies that stimulate and sustain students’ interest to enhance academic achievement.