Comparative Analysis of Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Public and Private Secondary School Students’ Performance in Kwara State, Nigeria

Oyeyemi Jumoke Jekayinfa, Isreal Ayodeji Gbenro

Abstract


ABSTRACT: This study compared the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on student performance in public and private secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. This study used the descriptive research type. The population for this study included all students in public and private secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) students were selected using a simple random sampling technique to select six, consisting of three public and three private schools, and 40 students were drawn from each of the selected schools to form a total of 240, the sample size for this study. A researcher designed a structured questionnaire with four answers and a confidence coefficient of 0.76 for data collection on the impact of COVID-19 containment, added to a researcher-designed pro forma used to determine the academic performance of history students before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (containment). The data collected were analyzed using descriptive mean and percentage statistics to answer the research questions, while independent t-tests and ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance) inferential statistics were used to test the postulated hypotheses at an alpha level of 0.05 to test. The results showed that the academic performance of history students in public schools was more impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown than their peers in private schools. One of the recommendations, therefore, was that teachers, particularly in public schools should incorporate virtual learning strategies to stimulate students' interest in studying history. This could help students engage more in academic activities and improve their history performance during the post-COVID-19 era as well as during future pandemics.

KEY WORDS: COVID-19 Pandemic; Academic Performance; Public and Private Schools.

About the Authors: Oyeyemi Jumoke Jekayinfa, Ph.D. and Isreal Ayodeji Gbenro are Lecturers at the Department of Arts Education UNILORIN (University of Ilorin) Nigeria. For academic purposes, the Authors are able to be contacted via e-mail addresses at: jekayinfa.oj@unilorin.edu.ng and oyeyemijekayinfa658@gmail.com

Suggested Citation: Jekayinfa, Oyeyemi Jumoke & Isreal Ayodeji Gbenro. (2026). “Comparative Analysis of Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Public and Private Secondary School Students’ Performance in Kwara State, Nigeria” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies, Volume 18(2), February, pp.139-158. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Suci Foundation and ASPENSI with ISSN 1979-7877 (print) and ISSN 2621-587X (online).

Article Timeline: Accepted (December 22, 2025); Revised (January 15, 2026); and Published (February 15, 2026).


Keywords


COVID-19 Pandemic; Academic Performance; Public and Private Schools

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2121/edu-ijes.v18i2.1534

DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.2121/edu-ijes.v18i2.1534.g1254

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