Factors Affecting Girls' Academic Achievement in Second Cycle Primary Schools in Guraghe Zone
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting girls' academic
achievement in second cycle primary schools in Guraghe zone. To achieve this
objective different basic research questions were raised. The study employed
concurrent mixed methods design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Considering the geographical area of the zone, cluster sampling technique was used
and six schools were selected randomly. Student respondents were selected based on
stratified sampling considering their sex, grade level and their parental SES. Teacher
respondents also selected from each department by usit;19 stratified sampling tec/,]nique
anri parents were chosen by using aVAilability samplin'g technique. To triangulate the
data prilTlary end secondary sources of dat<;i were used. The primary data sources
comprised students, te.achers, pfincipals, parenis o~ ,girls, and Woreda and Zone
education experts. As secondary sour-fie of data st~"tistical and factual information of the
zone education departme0t ,. and 2002 E. C first ?emester' girl students' examin'<ition
result were analyzed 'and highly consulted. Depending on the research questi,o'ns and
the nature of respondents, a variety of data gathering tools includirig questionnaire,
interview and observation were used. Percentage was predominantly used to indicate
the extent of respondents' opinion towards the issue· raised. Besides, in order to see if
there is a significant .difference ·in girl stuqe!lts' academic achievement as a result of
their socio economic status independent 'sample t-test was computed. As the finding of
the study indicated, the second cycle primary school repetition of girls is a serious
problem throughout the zone. The study also revealed that low level of parental
education, low level of parental involvement in their daughter education, household
chores negatively affed girls' academic achievement. School related factors like school
facility, lack of role model female teachers, teachers' attitudes also negatively affected
girls academic performance. Thus based on the findings of this study, it is
recommended that educational officials at various levels should promote and enhance
awareness creation programs on gender issue in education to parents and other
community members. Teachers and school principals should work jointly with girl
students and their parents to improve girls ' academic performance Moreover the local
government and educational authorities, NGOs. <pnd the community should work jointly
to support girls' education by facilitating the schoo.ls ,with necessary inputs for girls, by
updating teachers with gender issue in edur;;atiql,l. The sc/ilools ~themselves should
create conducive environment to empo'{Vf3T girls b'y assigni;lg then as team leader and
members in different school curricular activitif!s:' Female teachers should playa part in
this regard
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Keywords
affecting girls ;academic; achievement