Analysis of Community Perception of Education and Pupils’ Academic Achievement in Selected Primary Schools in Oyam District, Uganda
Abstract
The study aimed at analyzing whether community perception of education influences pupils’ academic achievement in primary schools in Oyam district Northern Uganda. The study was guided by the following research objectives; establishing the effect of community perceptions of education on pupils’ academic achievement, and finally the study looked at the strategies that the school can adopt to enhance community involvement in pupil academic achievement. The study was underpinned by a cross-sectional survey research design where data was collected to make inferences about a population of the study. The study used a total sample of 103 respondents. In order to adequately address the research objectives, two methods of data collection were used, that is primary and secondary methods for data collection. These were applied using the following instruments; Questionnaires, and interview method. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Regression Analysis was made to test the research hypothesis that exists between the two variables. The study finding was that Parents whose education perception was positive their children were able to get the necessary school requirements including school lunch, books, attending to school meetings, having continuous assessment and guiding them where necessary which boosted their academic achievement. On the other hand, negative community perception of education was associated with low pupils’ academic achievement since these pupils’ lacked academic guidance, lack of scholastic materials, inadequate academic test assessment, and high rate of absenteeism in school. The findings on pupils academic achievement was good in some schools while others were not as it was evidenced that for the last five years most school never managed to get division one. The study concluded that community perception of education influence pupils’ academic achievement, community perception of education was found to be both positive while others had negative perception of education and the study concluded that there was a relation between the study variables. The study recommended that in order for the community to realize the value of education, and to ensure that the community create a strong heart for education, there is need to build strong support from politicians, schools needs to create their own means to improve school quality, sensitization of the community on the value of supporting pupils during school, more attention must be paid to maintenance of school facilities and the quality of teaching staff must be ensured. Implication for further studies suggests that Parents and teachers academic achievement practices need to be studied in particular.
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