Title: Teachers' Competencies as Predictors of Students' Academic Engagement in Public Secondary Schools in Anambra State
Authors: Ughamadu, U., Okaforcha, C. C., & Nwakalor, R. N.
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 432-439
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
The study examined teachers' competencies as predictors of students' academic engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study was a correlational research design. The population of the study consisted of 24,933 SS2 students in 267 public secondary schools in the six education zones in Anambra State. The sample of 1,247 SS2 students was used for the study. Multistage sampling procedure comprising proportionate stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used for the study. The instruments Teachers' Competencies Questionnaire (TCQ) and Students' Academic Engagement Questionnaire (SAEQ) were used for data collection. The instruments were subjected to face and construct validation. Face validation was done by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was done using Cronbach Alpha technique and the average coefficient values were established at 0.82 for TCQ and 0.85 for SAEQ. Simple linear regression statistical tool was used to answer research questions and test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that teachers' communication and pedagogical competency has a high positive and significant prediction on students' academic engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State. The study concluded that teachers' competencies are positive and significant predictors of students' academic engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State. Based on the findings, the study recommended that public secondary school teachers should always adopt good verbal and non-verbal communication in classroom teaching and learning in order to improve students' academic engagement in public secondary schools in Anambra State.