Thesis and Dissertations

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Browsing Thesis and Dissertations by Subject "Academic Performance"

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    Assessment of Human Resource Management Practices in Relation to Academic Performance of Secondary Schools: A Case study of Kako Senior Secondary School in Mukungwe Sub-County in Masaka District.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2008) Nakintu, Dorothy
    NAKINTU DOROTHY (2008-M092-30029) Assessment of Human Resource Management Practices in Relation to Academic Performance of Secondary Schools: A Case study of Kako Senior Secondary School in Mukungwe Sub-County in Masaka District. The research was carried out on Assessment of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices in relation to Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Masaka district and a case study was done on Kako Senior Secondary School in Mukungwe sub-county. The major objectives of the study were three and these included: To ascertain the criteria used in selecting the human resource personnel in Kako Senior Secondary School; to establish the effects of human resource management practices on academic performance in Kako Secondary School and; to identify appropriate avenues of motivating human resource in Kako. The researcher employed a number of methods which include; interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussion to the students‟ leaders. From the findings it was indicated that the school management did not know how to handle and treat the human resource in the school and this implied that it is one of the factors that causes poor academic performance in the school, although there are other secondary causes like the students‟ discipline. In conclusion, therefore, HRM practices in Kako is a bigger problem than the society perceives, since it has far reaching effects, the most important being the deteriorating academic performance of students. This means that when management ignores its human resource as a major element in school, its behaviour and performance changes negatively, that is, they can be emotional and lack concentration which eventually translates into poor academic performance of the students in the school. It is from this that the researcher strongly recommends the Ministry of Education and Sports to employ administrators with at least some knowledge of handling HR; initiate workshops and seminars to sensitise all stake holders in schools and this can help improve on the ways in which HR is handled. From the findings it was also indicated that there are other causes of poor academic performance other than the HRM practices. Therefore, there is need to strengthen the disciplinary committee in the school and the school management should also ensure a good learning and working environment to both the teachers and the students. Key Words: Human Resource Management, Academic Performance, Secondary Schools, Masaka District.
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    The Effects of Child Labour on Academic Performance of Pupils of Bungokho Sub-county in Mbale District.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2009) Musungu, Lydia Constance
    MUSUNGU LYDIA CONSTANCE (2009-M053-20008) The Effects of Child Labour on Academic Performance of Pupils of Bungokho Sub-county in Mbale District. The study dealt with the effects of child labour on educational performance of pupils of Bungokho sub-county in Mbale district. The thrust of the research was that Child Labour exists in different forms and in many ways affects educational performance of pupils in schools. The objectives under which this study was conducted included; to find out the different forms of child labour practiced in Bungokho sub-county, to find out the causes of poor educational performance of pupils in Bungokho sub-county, to find out the correlation between child labour and educational performance of pupils in Bungokho sub-county, to suggest viable solutions to the effects of child labour on educational performance. The research used a case study design employing both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Data collection tools such as interviews, observation, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) using guiding questions, and documentaries were utilised to achieve the objectives of the study. The research findings, therefore, established that there are several forms of child Labour in Bungokho sub-county manifested in form of stone quarrying, sand mining, working at construction sites, looking after rice gardens, hawking various merchandise as well as loading and offloading items from vehicles let alone domestic chores. Furthermore, the study revealed that pupils‟ educational performance is significantly affected by a complex of socio-economic factors such as absenteeism, late coming, household poverty that limits provision of scholastic materials, lack of midday meals at school besides inadequate supervision of school activities by school head teachers. The research findings, thus, confirmed that pupils under Child Labour are usually absent from school, have low concentration in class due to fatigue, rarely unstable at school to accomplish their school assignments and as such perform poorly in school hence a significant positive correlation between Child Labour and pupils‟ educational performance in schools in Bungokho sub-county. Accordingly this research recommends that for pupils‟ educational performance to improve in Bungokho sub-county schools, collective and committed efforts from all stake holders to eliminate Child Labour practices are required. This should be done through sensitising community members about the ills of Child Labour, empowering households to improve on their incomes and food security as well as creating a friendly child learning environment at school. Parents inevitably should be seen to work and provide for their children and, teachers ought to recommit themselves to their vocation to the overall benefit of the growing children under their responsibility. So while the pride of training children to work as a growing responsible citizenry should remain a key tenet for pupils growth and development, parents and guardians alike, should not use this to abuse the children as it hampers their attainment levels in schools and indeed in life. Key Words: Child Labour, Academic Performance, Pupils, Mbale District.
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    An Investigation of the Effects of the Implementation of Universal Primary Education Policies on the Academic Performance of Pupils in Government Primary Schools: A Case Study of Kyegonza sub-county, Mpigi District
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2009) Nakitto, Annet
    NAKITTO ANNET (2009-M07-10002) An Investigation of the Effects of the Implementation of Universal Primary Education Policies on the Academic Performance of Pupils in Government Primary Schools: A Case Study of Kyegonza sub-county, Mpigi District The purpose of this research was to find out the effects of the implementation of Universal Primary Education (UPE) policies; (abolition of tuition fee; thematic curriculum; automatic promotion; provision of adequate instructional materials; and training and re-training of teachers) on the academic performance of pupils in government primary schools in Kyegonza sub-county-Mpigi district. The study was conducted with the guidance of the following research objectives: To find out the effects of abolition of tuition on the academic performance of pupils in government primary schools; establish the effects of thematic curriculum on the pupils‟ academic performance in government primary schools; find out the effects of automatic promotion on the academic performance of pupils in government primary schools; to ascertain the effects of provision of adequate instructional materials on the academic performance of pupils in government primary schools and; to find out the effects of training and re-training of teachers on the academic performance of pupils in government primary schools. The researcher adopted a case study design, in which both qualitative and quantitative research approaches for data collection and analysis were utilised. Instruments used included; Questionnaire Forms; Interview Guides; Focus Group Discussion Guides; Observation Guides and Documentary Analysis Checklist. The findings, generally, indicated that the implementation of UPE policies in government primary schools has contributed positively towards the academic performance of pupils. The findings showed that among the five policies on which this research was based, (Abolition of tuition fee; thematic curriculum; automatic promotion; provision of adequate instructional materials and training and re-training of teachers), four out of five, had strong support from the UPE stakeholders. It was only automatic promotion, which the stakeholders were not comfortable with. However, recommendations were suggested for its success. Based on the findings, therefore, it is reasonably safe to assert that the implementation of UPE policies has contributed much to the improvement of government primary school pupils‟ academic performance. Pupils‟ failure in examinations could be attributed, perhaps, to other factors beyond the scope of this research. For this reason, therefore, the researcher recommends the government, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, to revise the implementation process of UPE policy of automatic promotion. Keywords: Universal Primary Education, Academic Performance, Government Primary schools, Mpigi District
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    Learners’ Family Background and Academic Performance in Universal Primary Education Schools in Soroti Municipality, Soroti District.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2011) Akol, Irene Bira
    AKOL IRENE BIRA (2011-M092-40002) Learners’ Family Background and Academic Performance in Universal Primary Education Schools in Soroti Municipality, Soroti District. Government of Uganda has been implementing Universal Primary Education since 1997 but for a long time many parts of the country have experienced low levels of achievement in UPE. The study was conducted in Soroti Municipality, Soroti district, with the objectives of assessing the influence of economic status of learners‟ parents; education level of learners‟ parents; marital status of learners‟ parents and parents‟ relationship with the learners on academic performance in UPE schools in Soroti Municipality. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection including review of existing literature, questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the qualitative data were analysed by classifying into themes. Coding was then done to be able to come up with dominant views from the respondents. The findings revealed that economic status of learners‟ parents explains up to 1.9%, education level of learners‟ parents accounts for 0.8%, marital status of learners‟ parents accounts for 12.5% and parents‟ relationship with the learners accounted for up to 7.6% of academic performance in Soroti Municipality UPE schools. Furthermore, 77.2% of academic performance remains un accounted for in this study, implying that there are other factors that account for academic performance that need investigation. The immediate factor to study is the effect of the learner characteristics on academic performance. The researcher concluded that education level and economic status of learners‟ parents are less significant while marital status of learners‟ parents and parents‟ relationship with the learners are more significant in determining learners‟ academic performance. To improve academic performance: Parents should uphold their role of supporting learners‟ education; increased community sensitisation; increased parents‟ engagement in policy formulation; guidance and counselling of both parents and learners; and provision of education scholarships to the poor. Key areas for future research include: contribution of learner characteristics to academic performance; contribution of mid-day meals to the academic performance and in-depth and comparative studies looking at learner characteristics, teacher-based factors and parent-based factors in influencing academic performance. Once these are done, it is probable that the academic performance will improve in the area. Key Words: Learners, Family Background, Academic Performance, Universal Primary Education Schools, Soroti District
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    Traditional African Parenting and Children’s Academic Performance: A Case Study of Nankoma Sub-county, Bugiri District.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2011) Koire, JOY
    KOIRE JOY (2011-MO92-20020) Traditional African Parenting and Children’s Academic Performance: A Case Study of Nankoma Sub-county, Bugiri District. This study sought to establish the relationship between traditional African parenting and children‟s academic performance in Nankoma sub-county, Bugiri district of Uganda. To do this, the following specific objectives were in place to guide the study: (i) to establish the concept and the different forms of traditional African parenting on children‟s academic performance in schools of Nankoma sub-county (ii) to explore how children are affected by traditional African parenting in their education and consequently performance in the schools setting as depicted in school academic performance (iii) to highlight the weaknesses and strengths in traditional African parenting for better academic performance. The researcher used a case study design to conduct this research. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed to analyse data from parents, teachers, children, community leaders and administrators using questionnaires and interviews. All data were transcribed and arranged into thematic areas derived from the objectives of the study. Quantifiable ratings were made using frequencies (f) and percentage scores of ratings to a particular thematic element. The sample size used was 50 children, 10 parents, 10 teachers, 10 administrators and 5 local leaders. The findings indicate that, there are unusual aspects of traditional parenting styles that are employed in Nankoma sub-county in Bugiri Uganda. Parenting is first of all seen with the roles and responsibility of parents who are seen as the primary „parenter‟ because of the cardinal roles of being the first family provider. Parents on their side expect the child whom they are parenting, to abide by rules and completing the home chores given to them. As long as that is accomplished, the parent sees the child as able to fit within the boundaries of the family discipline. It has also been evident, that parenting practices in the African family sometimes tend to be harsh. The researcher has concluded that most respondents have tended to observe authoritarian and permissive (indulgent) parenting on opposite sides of the spectrum. Unfortunately, such a tendency, will in most cases also affect the academic achievement of the child. The researcher recommends that firstly, the teachers and parents create a uniting platform, where they can be able to bring forth issues of parenting noted, but again this is seen as an opportunity for schools to have guided policies for parenting. An opportunity is proposed for planners at the Ministry of Education, to suggest mechanisms for incorporating parenting practices within the school system. Key Words: Traditional African Parenting, Children, Academic Performance, Bugiri District.