International Journal of Business and Management Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 – 8028, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 801X www.ijbmi.org Volume 2 Issue 5 ǁ May. 2013ǁ PP.48-59 www.ijbmi.org 48 | P a g e Determinants of Students’ Academic Performance In Financial Accounting among Senior Secondary School Leavers in Oyo State 1 Moses Solagbade Adeleke (Ph.D.), 2 Michael Olayinka Binuomote and 3 Mrs. S. F. Adeyinka 1,2,3 Business Education, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Lanlate Campus, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research work is to establish academic performance determinism of senior secondary school leavers in Financial Accounting in both National Examination Council (NECO) and West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), and illustrate its linkage to career interest choice determinants and career interest choice among senior secondary school leavers in Oyo State. The paper reviewed the focal literature focusing on the effects of the determinants of students’ academic career interest choice and performance in the subject and built an analytical model of determinants of students’ academic pe rformance with a mind of gaining useful insight into the weight these determinants have on students’ choice of subjects (career interest choice) and its (career interest choice) consequence on the students’ academic performance.. From the findings of this study, the determinants of career interest choice investigated have significant effects on career interest choice but not all the determinants have positive significant effects on academic performance of senior secondary school leavers in Financial Accounting in terminal public examinations. School (private or public) could not impact on the students’ academic performance rightly. Based on the findings of this paper, measures that can be taken by school owners are discussed and appropriate recommendations were made. Keywords: Academic Performance, Societal Perception and Values, Personal factors, Career Interest Factors, Socio Economic Factors I. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background of the Study The right to choose a subject of study at the senior secondary school level is often influenced by the students’ personal factors, societal perception and values, the school system and the socio - economic indices. If not that the society makes the study of certain subjects as basic for all students, sizable number of students would find Mathematics or English language or both missing from their lists of subjects as irrelevant to be studied. The simple reason is most students believed Mathematics is dreadful and learning of foreign language, like English, is cumbersome regardless of the fact that such language is official language of the society. But the inclusion of these two subjects as part of the basic subjects, are being offered compulsorily. The influence of the society peters out here clearly; hence the society produces National Policy on Education to spell out the society’s values and perception of what Education in the society should be. However there are some subjects that are left to be offered as optional or career subjects. These subjects are to be chosen by the students (either under school counsellors or parental or peer group’s influence). Many students do consider their aptitude and attitude for the studies of certain subjects whereas others may be acting purely under duress from parents or peer group. From the foregoing, there exists set of subject choice determination in schools whether the school is in the urban or rural areas. To those in the urban areas, the influence of urbanisation could not be ruled out and neither can one underestimate the weaning power of the rural areas too. Parents from the rural areas that have not been privileged to know the benefits of becoming an accountant may not be impressed to advise their wards to choose Financial Accounting as a subject of study or a student who does not know the challenges and prospects of the job of an accountant may avoid to include the same among the lists of the subjects to be studied. Whether the students are from urban or rural areas, it is obvious that the students’ personality is a product of some factors such as gender, intelligence, aptitude and attitude. Adeleke (2012) believed that these inborn traits are organic factors that first determine the person’s life foundation that sustain other structures – cultural values, social influence and school system influence.