Abstract

The study investigates the effect of English Language proficiency on student's performance in cataloguing and classification courses in polytechnic-based library schools in Nigeria. This is against the background of the phobia the students have for cataloguing and classification. Descriptive survey method was adopted while a questionnaire, English Language proficiency test and cataloguing and classification test were used for data collection. Total enumeration technique was used to select all 1019 HND students from four purposively selected Nigerian polytechnics. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. The students' performance in the English language proficiency test is in the following order; Federal Polytechnic Offa (X=38.45); Federal Polytechnic Oko (X=37.15); Federal Polytechnic Kaduna (X=32.82); and Federal Polytechnic Nekede. Mean scores for cataloguing and classification test were: Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna (X=46.044); Federal Polytechnic, Nekede (X=45.432); Federal Polytechnic, Oko (X=44.229) and Federal Polytechnic Offa (X=42.625). The study revealed that English Language proficiency has a significant correlation with performance in cataloguing and classification courses. The study recommended that secondary school authorities in Nigeria should provide adequate resources for teaching English language so that the potential polytechnic students will have a good background in English language to enhance their performance in cataloguing and classification. The general studies programme in English in Nigerian polytechnics should be reviewed to make it more effective while the library schools should provide adequate resources for the teaching and learning cataloguing and classification for enhanced performance.

Key words: English Language proficiency, Student's performance, cataloguing and classification courses, polytechnic-based library schools, Nigeria.