FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF NORTHERN BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the factors affecting the academic performance of secondary school students in northern Bangladesh. It was also aimed to investigate the relationship between socio economic and other variables with academic performances of the students this study. A two stage cluster sampling technique was used to achieve the objectives of this study in Rangpur division of Bangladesh which covers 57 upazilas in eight districts. For sampling purpose, this study covered 25% of the 57 Upizalas i.e. 14 Upizalas those were randomly selected from the whole (57). In the second stage two secondary schools were selected randomly from each selected upazila. All the students of class nine grade (IX), who completed class VII and class VIII grades in the same school are included in the sample. Total numbers of sampled students were 1853 on secondary school students. A set of questionnaires was distributed to the respective respondents and objective oriented data were collected for this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, statistics, t-test, F-test, Chi-square (χ 2 ) test, Binary logistic regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. It was observed that about 82% students were in the age group 14-15 and 18% students had age group 16+, it seems the maximum students were in the age group 14-15. About 54.5 % students were male and 45.5% students were female. About 29.7% respondent students achieved in class VIII final exam with <= 3.99 GPA, 20.0% students of respondent students had GPA 4.00 - 4.49 and 50.3% respondent students had GPA 4.50 - 5.00 in JSC results. The chi-square test results showed that most of the demographic variables are significantly associated with academic performance at JSC (Grade VIII) level at either 0.01 or 0.05 level of probability except for religion, prior achievements position in class 5. Correlation matrix feedback also found significant demographic variables with academic performances. The result indicated that the variables mother education, father education; monthly family income, monthly expenditure and hours for daily study at home were positively significant the academic results of the secondary school students. ANOVA outcomes also found a significant difference among the demographic variables with the academic performance at JSC (Grade VIII) level. The Binary logistic analysis revealed that variables mother education, monthly family income, parents‟ residence, school type and father occupation are the determinant variables for getting good academic results. The factors like academic atmosphere at school, academic atmosphere at home and education target level were significant identifying factors also for achieve good academic results grade 8 (JSC results) students. This study recommends that parents should provide the necessary academic material to the students, adequate home resources and academic atmosphere at home for better quality academic achievements. Also, parents, teachers and school authority should collaborate with each other, make encouragement to the students or leaners to motivate the expectation of the students and making good school environment to achieve high academic performances at secondary level.