JOURNAL OF AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH

This study assesses the effect of particulate matter from gas flares around the environs of Igwuruta community, Rivers State. The study employed a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD). Ambient air quality measurements were conducted across four (4) stations using instruments such as the Aeroqual 500 Series Gas Monitor, GT 321 Particulate Meter, Automated GPS, Extech Meteorology Meter, and a measuring tape to assess pollutant levels in the surrounding environment. The study revealed that PM₂.₅ (85.4 mg/m²/day) and PM₁₀ (145.6 mg/m²/day) deposition rates are highest at Station A (100m upstream), indicating intense atmospheric fallout of particulates onto the soil surface. Also, PM₂.₅ (50.8 mg/m²/day) and PM₁₀ (90.5 mg/m²/day) levels dropped at Station C (500 m), indicating reduced contamination with distance. While PM₂.₅ (0.020 mg/L) and PM₁₀ (0.040 mg/L) levels dropped slightly above WHO limits at Station D (Control - 1000 meters away), showing distance reduces pollution impact. Hence, the study concludes that the environs around the Agbada flow station is polluted with particulate matter pollutants. The study recommended, among others, that trees should be planted to absorb the excess concentration of CO2 around the environs of the Agbada flow station, alongside high temperature resistant plants like Lantana should be planted in the communities bordering the Agbada flow station with high intensity of temperatures.

This study examines the predictive validity of variables of absenteeism on senior secondary school students’ academic achievement in Biology in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted the correlational research design. A sample of 936 respondents comprising 288 and 648 Biology teachers and students respectively were selected from 72 public senior secondary schools across six (6) randomly selected Local Government Areas in Rivers State. A 20-item self-structured instrument titled “Predictive Validity of Variables of Absenteeism Questionnaire” (PVVAQ) and 50-item “Biology Achievement Test” (BAT) with reliability coefficients of 0.874 and 0.861 respectively necessitated their use for collecting data analyzed using regression analysis. The study revealed p-values of .000*, .000*, and .050* which indicated that the predictors of absenteeism like school refusal, school withdrawal and early leaving respectively significantly contributed to determine senior secondary school students’ achievement in Biology in Rivers State. The study recommended that school administrators and supervisors should regularly monitor and ensure that Biology teachers class conduct aligns with the ethos of the profession such as teaching, assessment, counselling and discipline in order to avoid students becoming idle that would predispose them to unruliness, truancy and absenteeism that affects academic achievement in Biology.