Assessment of Critical Thinking Skill of Secondary School Students for Sustainable Development and Capacity Building of Science Education in Anambra State
Authors: Ngozi Elizabeth Ezenwosu1; Goodluck Erutujiro1
Affiliations:
- 1Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Abstract
As education moves from content memorization to skill development, critical thinking has become a core competency for student success in science subjects. It is an essential skill for the scientific and technological advancement of any society. This study assessed the critical thinking skills of secondary school students for sustainable development and capacity building in science education in Anambra State. The research was guided by three questions and three hypotheses, using a descriptive and predictive correlation design. The study population consisted of 23,247 Senior Secondary Two (SS 2) students in Anambra State, from which a sample of 670 was selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Critical Thinking Questionnaire developed by Alihali et al. (2023), which had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89. The instrument included 64 items on a seven-point Likert scale (0 = Never to 6 = Always) and was validated through confirmatory factor analysis. Data collection was supported by six research assistants and analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test, and multiple regression. Results showed that students generally demonstrated high critical thinking skills, with male and urban students scoring higher than female and rural students. Critical thinking skills had a significant influence on academic achievement in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Among the skill dimensions, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation showed significant influence, while self-regulation and interpretation did not. It is recommended that teachers actively help students develop critical thinking skills to strengthen science education in Anambra State.
Keywords: Assessment; Critical Thinking; Capacity Building; Science Education
Suggested citation
Ezenwosu, N. E., & Erutujiro, G. (2025). Assessment of Critical Thinking Skill of Secondary School Students for Sustainable Development and Capacity Building of Science Education in Anambra State. In TheSustainImpact International Forum 2025 Book of Abstracts (Vol. 1, Issue 1). TheSustainImpact. ISSN 3051-7362.