FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENT’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN NATIONAL EXAMINATION SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE, CENTREAL ETHIOPIA REGION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was done with objective of exploring factors affecting students’ academic achievement in national examination in sampled secondary schools of Kembate Tembaro Zone. The subjects of the study were 139 teachers, 12 PTA, 8 principals, 3 supervisors and 6 education office experts (29 school leaders) sampled woreda and town administrations. Totally, 168 respondents participated in the study. Convergent (parallel or concurrent) mixed methods design was employed. Because both quantitative and qualitative data was collected in one phase, the data were analyzed separately and then compared and combined. Teachers were selected by simple random sampling technique while school leaders were selected by purposive sampling. Questionnaire, interview and document revises were used as data collection tools. The quantitative data was analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and sample t- test while qualitative data were analyzed by descriptive narration. The finding of the study showed that the students’ academic achievement in sampled secondary schools of Kembate Tembaro zone was medium when it was seen from national examination of three consecutive years such as 2011-2013 E.C. The internal factors that affected students’ academic achievement were teachers experience, teacher’s qualification, student’s attitude, parental involvement, school facilities such as class size and shortage of text books while the external factors that affected students’ academic achievement in study area were income of student’s family, age of the students and education level of the parents. Therefore, the academic achievements of students in sampled secondary schools were decreased due to above mentioned internal and external factors. Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were forwarded: parents should be follow their students, mainly teachers and principals should be work cooperation with school community to change student attitude towards learning, government should be provide schools with reliable financial support to ensure availability of required physical facilities as well as teaching and Learning materials, school leaders should focus on school activity teaching and learning process