The School Environment and Adjustment of Children in primary schools in the Buea Municipality

ABSTRACT

This study purposed to investigate the school environment and adjustment of children in Primary schools within the Buea Municipality. Four objectives were used for the study namely; to investigate the extent to which the school environment affects adjustment of children in primary schools,to find out the extent to which the physical environment of the school affects adjustment of children in primary schools in the Buea Municipality , to determine  the extent to which the social environment of the school affects adjustment of children in primary   schools in the Buea Municipality and To what extent does the cognitive aspects of the school environment affects the adjustment of children in primary schools. These objectives were later transformed into questions and hypotheses. The study used a quantitative research method where the descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of the study was made of all primary schools in Buea Municipality. The target population of the study comprised of students from two primary schools; Princess Diana Nursery and Primary School and Likoko Membea Group 2. The sample size was 60 that is 30 from Princess Diana and 30 from Likoko Membea Group2, The school students from the two targeted schools of which data was collected via the use of questionnaire. The data collected was later analyzed descriptively via frequencies and percentages and inferentially via Pearsons’ Moment Correlation. The findings reveal the influence of physical environment on child’s adjustment in primary schools r=0.786 p<0.05.On the other hand the social aspects of the school environment influence children’s adjustment r=0.989,p<0.05 and  the cognitive aspects of the school environment influence children’s adjustment r= 0.989, P=0.05. Based on findings, the following recommendations were made by the researcher; there should be effective cooperation between international, national and local organizations dealing on environmental promotion with the various departments offering environmental education as a course of study in higher institution in Cameroon. Research grants and scholarship opportunities should be provided for teachers and children of environmental education in the country.

The study sought to find out how teachers behaviors affect children’s adjustment and also to know there altitude towards these new pupils.it also recommend that teachers get to know there pupils well and make them feel comfortable so they don’t feel the need to leave the school and special programs should be made to introduce them and make them comfortable around the environment

Alll teachers handling Environmental content use methodologies that can help students in all the three domains of learning that us cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. It is also recommend that teachers use more active teaching approaches including trips, projects, community service, and academic excursions. This will expose students to the reality of environment and environmental problems hence enhancing holistic learning