Abstract

This study investigated the influence of birth order on students’ academic performance in secondary school in FCT. (In line with its objectives, research questions and hypotheses were raised) Three research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study used a descriptive survey design. Data were collected from sixteen sampled secondary schools where three hundred and sixty-six students from both Private schools and public schools were purposively sampled. Two sets of instruments were used to collect data namely; Birth order questionnaire(r=0.85) and Students Academic Record. The researcher employed the use of frequency counts, percentages and mean scores for the analysis of data. The hypotheses were tested using one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) at 0.05 level of significance to test the difference in mean. Result showed that there was a notable influence of birth order on student’s academic performance. The study also noted that there are effects of birth order on academic performance of students attending secondary school in FCT-Abuja. It is therefore recommended among other things that parents should not give any form of preferential treatment to any of their children based on their order of birth; they should be treated equally because they all deserve good and quality education and also, the school authority must probe into the family life of underachievers.