EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY ON STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, DAMATURU

Aminu Zubairu¹, Ibrahim Babale Gashua²

ABSTRACT

This research investigates the impact of temperature and humidity on student academic performance in The Federal Polytechnic Damaturu. The research focuses on the relationship between environmental factors and Grade Point Average (GPA) from 2020 to 2023, incorporating academic records from the institution and weather data provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. A regression analysis quantified the effect of temperature and humidity on GPA, revealing that for every 1°C increase in temperature, GPA dropped by approximately 0.03 points, and for every 1% rise in humidity, GPA decreased by about 0.01 points. The regression model had an adjusted R-squared value of 0.41, indicating that 41% of GPA variation could be explained by these environmental factors. The study confirmed negative correlations between GPA and both temperature and humidity. The average temperature ranged from 26.75°C to 32.71°C, with the highest recorded on 2023-06-07, while humidity ranged from 36.30% to 57.88%, peaking on 2022-07-20. A time series analysis demonstrated that semesters with higher temperatures and humidity, such as 2022-07 and 2023-04, were associated with lower GPA averages, further supporting the negative trend. The heat index, a combined measure of temperature and humidity, peaked at 34.77°C on 2023-06-07, reinforcing the link between extreme weather and reduced academic performance. These findings highlight the need for implementing strategies in educational institutions like Federal Polytechnic Damaturu to mitigate the effects of adverse weather, such as improving classroom conditions and adjusting academic schedules.

Keywords:  Temperature, Humidity, Academic Performance, GPA, Students