Factors affecting the academic performance of female students at Makerere University : A case study of School of Statistics and Planning 2019/2020

Abstract

This study is about the factors affecting the academic performance of female students at Makerere University. A case study of school of Statistics and Planning 2019/2020. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between culture, family background, parents’ social economic status and academic performance of female students at Makerere University. The study used primary data which was collected through interviews and questionnaires as a data collection method. The data was collected from the target population (School of Statistics and Planning, Makerere University). It included only the first-year undergraduate (2019/2020) students of this school pursuing different courses. A sample of 30 students was selected from BBS, 10 from BPS, 28 from BQE, 10 from BSAS and 16 from BSTAT. The samples were chosen using random number tables, the class lists as a sampling frame. Analysis of data shall be done under three stages of analysis using SPSS software. These were: Univariate analysis for obtaining the descriptive characteristics of the population; Bivariate analysis for assessing the association between the dependent and the independent variables and Multivariate analysis for multiple linear regression in assessing the net impact of the factors that influence the dependent variable. The study found out that there is sexual harassment in schools and little is done to stop it. It was also established that the Education level of parents/guardian had nothing to do with their performance at university. The study further revealed that parents’ income levels impacted the academic performance of the students at the University. The study concluded that sexuality is a factor that affects the performance of girls. The rate of absenteeism, and sexual harassment among girls was relatively high this was so because of the domestic chores assigned and child care responsibilities. The study also concluded that family background is one of the factors affecting the academic performance of girls. That is so because most the girls reported that domestic chores affected their studies. The study concludes that there is a positive relationship between family background and academic performance of female students in public primary schools. The study also concluded that there is a relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the academic performance of children. The researcher recommended that the parents and the community should ensure that they take their children to school regardless of the gender and that strategies should be formulated to make the society aware of the benefits of educating girls in the society.