THE RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS' COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF SUBJECT MATTER IN PREDICTING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN TOURISM IN CALABAR EDUCATION ZONE CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract

This study examined the relative influence of teachers' communication skills and knowledge of subject matter in predicting students' academic performance in tourism in Secondary Schools in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. To carry out the study, two research questions and the corresponding hypothesis were raised for the study. A survey research design was used for the study. Study’s sample was drawn using stratified random and purposive sampling procedures and it comprised of 582 respondents. Data collection instruments titled “Teacher Competency Questionnaire” (TCQ) and “Tourism Achievement Test” (TAT) were used to elicit data for the study. Cronbach Alpha was applied to estimate the instrument’s reliability. The two hypotheses raised for the study were analysed using Independent t-test, tested at .05 level of significance. The result deduced from the data analyses revealed that there is a significant influence of teachers' communication skills and knowledge of subject matter in predicting students' academic performance in tourism in Calabar education zone Cross River State. The researchers recommended that teachers should be encouraged to see the need to adopt positive communication skills that would trigger learners’ interest towards learning and attaining optimal academic performances in Tourism and continuous training opportunities should be organized for teachers by the State Ministry of Education such as workshops and seminars where they would be updated in terms of knowledge of subject matter and how they can best transmit same to 21st century learners.