Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

The availability index of qualified English language and science teachers in Eastern Nigerian secondary education system was appraised in this study with students’ performance index in NECO senior school certificate examination and rate of spillover of engineering students in our tertiary institutions as a quest for the basic cause of poor performance of engineering students/graduates in this region. Institutions sampled include all secondary schools in Abia, Anambra Enugu, Imo and Rivers states, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Uyo, Univeristy of Portharcourt and Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result showed shows that all the five states sampled exhibited teacher to school (TS) ratio of less than one in basic technology, technical drawing and further mathematics. Rivers states fall short of the required TS ratio in all the subjects while Abia and Imo states suffers the same faith in mathematics, basic science and chemistry. Anambra is the only state with the required TS ratio in physics. This indicates that these subjects are not taught, otherwise unqualified persons manage them in some public secondary schools at any given time, thereby revealing a probability that a prospective engineering student may not be taught by qualified English language and science teachers during his/her secondary education in this region. Hence, the unabated poor performance of many students in English language and science subjects in senior school certificate examination yearly. Consequently, the high rate of spillover of engineering students in our universities and polytechnics which arbitrary fluctuates from 30% to 66% depending on the level of infiltration of non-groomed students admitted per set per institution. Since these subjects are prime for inculcating logic, creative and entrepreneurial taught required of prospective engineering students, provision of adequate qualified teachers in our public secondary schools is therefore recommended as basic step for curtailing incessant spillover of engineering students in our higher institutions.