Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the teaching of Literature-in-English and the students’ performance in the English Language in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations. Some selected secondary schools in Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West were used as samples. A total number of three hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to teachers and students. Data were collected using the Likert type of questionnaires: 4-point-scale questionnaires: Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Strongly Disagree (SD) and Disagree (D). The data collected were analysed using percentages as well as T-Test. Only hypothesis two was tested at 0.05 level of significance while percentage was used for hypothesis one. The findings of the study revealed, among others, that there was a serious decline in the performance of students in the English language at the West African Examinations Council: Senior School Certificate Examinations (WAECSSCE) between 2001 and 2003 years of the study. Also, the study indicated that there was significant difference between the performance of students that offered the English Language alone and those that combined Literature-in-English with English in the WAEC SSCE. The study equally revealed that effective teaching of Literature-in-English improved the students’ performance in the English Language in secondary schools. In view of the outcome of this study, some recommendations are made.