Gender Influence on Academic Achievement in Computer Studies among Senior Secondary School Students in Enugu Education Zone, Enugu State

This study explored the effect of gender on the academic performance of senior secondary school students in computer studies within the Enugu East Education Zone, Enugu State. Adopting a causal-comparative research design, the study targeted a population of 8,470 students, from which a sample of 187 students (92 males and 95 females) was drawn using multi-stage sampling. Data collection utilized a Computer Studies Achievement Test, validated by experts in Science Education and Measurement & Evaluation, achieving a reliability coefficient of 0.94 using Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (K- R20). Research questions were analyzed using means and standard deviations, while hypotheses were tested with independent t-tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings indicated that male students outperformed female students in computer studies, though no significant achievement differences were observed between genders in public and private schools. The study recommends encouraging female students to engage confidently in computer studies and calls for equitable learning opportunities regardless of gender.