Teacher Pupil Ratio On Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Schools in Mabaale Sub-County ' Kibaale District

ABSTRACT The major purpose of the study was _to investigate the impact of a high pupil teacher ratio on the academic achievement of learners primary schools in Mabaale Sub-county Kibaale district. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate the impact of large class size on the academic achievement of pupils in Mabaale Sub-county Kabaale district; investigate the impact of lack of learning materials on the academic achievement of learners; and to investigate the impact of much overload for teachers on the academic achievement of learners. The study used the questionnaires to teachers to gi-ie their views on the topic of the study. The findings of the study discovered that large classes constrain teaching and learning, and therefore, contribute to low student achievement: large classes limit regular and in-depth discussions with students, timely and frequent feedback to students and active problem solving, all which are key to facilitating meaningful learning; and children in small classes are inore likely to interact with their teachers. It was recommended that the educational policy makers should formulate policies that will ensure that the number of students in a class should not exceed 30 pupils. This in turn will make the government to provide enough classrooms' for the schools.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ....................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... v

LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ x

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1

1.0 Background to the Study ............................................................................................... 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................... 2

1.2 Purpose of the Study ...................................................................................................... 2

1.3 Objectives of the study .................................................................................................. 2

1.4 Research questions ......................................................................................................... 3

1.5 Scope of the Study ......................................................................................................... 3

1.6 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. .3

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ .4

LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................... 4

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... .4

2.1 The impact of class size on the academic achievement of pupils ................................. .4

2.2 Possible Effects of Class Size on Teachers and Pupils .................................................. 8

2.3 Infrastructure and learning materials ........................................................................... 10

2.4 Implications for Policy and Practice ............................................................................ 11

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 13

3.0. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 13

3 .1 Research Design .......................................................................................................... 13

3.2 Environment ................................................................................................................ 13

3 .3 Respondents and sample selection ............................................................................... 14

V

3.4 Instruments of Data Collection .................................................................................... 14

3.5. Reliability of the instruments ...................................................................................... 14

3.6. Data Collection Procedures ........................................................................................ 14

3.7. Statistical Treatments ofData ..................................................................................... 15

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 16

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS ..... 16

4.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 16

4.1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents ............................................................. 16

4.1 profile of the respondents ............................................................................................ 16

4.2 The Class size on the academic achievement of pupils ............................................... 17

4.2.1 Large classes constrain teaching and learning .......................................................... 17

4.2.2 Large classes limit regular and in-depth discussions with students ......................... 18

4.2.3 Children in small classes are more likely to interact with their teachers .................. 19

4.2.4 In smaller classes there is easier classroom management and control ..................... 20

4.2.5 In smaller classes there is more teacher support for learning ................................... 21

4.2.6 In smaller classes there is more teacher task time with pupils ................................. 21

4.3 The impact oflack oflearning materials on the academic achievement of learners ... 22

4.3.1 The school lacks enough text books forpupils ......................................................... 22

4.3 .2 The school has no charts for the learning exercise ................................................. 23

4.3.3 The schools lack adequate chalk and chalk boards for effective teaching ............. 24

4.4 The impact of much overload for teachers on the academic achievement of learners 24

4.4.1 The Teachers overload makes some teachers to dodge classes .............................. 25

4.4.2 The Low salary and poor teaching conditions cause teachers to leave the field

within 1-3 years of entering the service ........................................................................... 25

4.4.3 The school finds problems in attracting more teachers because it is a hard to reach

area ..................................................................................................................................... 26

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 28

SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND

CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................... 28

5.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 28

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5.1. Summary and Discussions .......................................................................................... 28

5.2. Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 28

5.3. Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 29

5.4. Suggestions for Further Research ............................................................................... 29