Influence of Teachers' Teaching Experience on Students' Learning Outcomes in Secondary Schools in Ondo State, Nigeria

This article examined teachers' teaching experience and students' learning outcomes in the secondary schools in Ondo State Nigeria. As a correlational survey, the study population comprised all the 257 secondary schools that presented students for the year 2003 senior secondary certificate (SSC) examinations in the State. Out of the population, a sample of 180 schools was drawn through the process of stratified random sampling technique. An inventory and a semi-structured interview schedule were the instruments used to collect information for the study. The data collected were analysed using the chi square test, correlation analysis and t-test. The semi-structured interview was conducted with selected principals and education officers. Their responses were analysed through content analysis. The findings revealed that teachers' teaching experience was significant with student' learning outcomes as measured by their performance in the SSC examinations. Schools having more teachers with five years and above teaching experience achieved better results than schools having more teachers with less than five years teaching experience. Considering the findings, it was recommended that government should encourage experienced teachers to stay on the job through the provision of incentives such as better promotional prospects, better welfare package and better conditions of service. African Journal of Educational Studies in Mathematics and Sciences Vol. 5 2007: pp. 9-19