Assessment of the Effect and Extent of Operational Conditions and Practices on Education Performance in Uganda: A Case of Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine an optimum sample required to obtain reliable estimates for the parameters of interest so as to provide valuable information on the effect and extent of operational conditions and practices of a school on education performance, in particular students in primary schools found in Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council. In this case, a causal research design was adopted to accurately test and measure the cause and effect relationship between education performance and the related contextual independent variables. A stratified one-stage cluster sampling design was used to determine the optimum sample and clusters were selected from multiple communities. Major findings from analysis indicated that the class size had a significant effect on the academic performance of students where the highest percentage of students studying in a very large-sized class (68.39%) had an average aggregates score of 25 aggregates , Students in a moderately sized class (18.13%) had an average aggregates score of 21 aggregates and those in small-sized classes (13.47%) had an average aggregates score of 13 aggregates. Similarly, students from schools which engage more in school practices had an average score of 11 aggregates as compared to those who less engage in them exhibiting an average aggregates score of 23 aggregates. Other school operational conditions that significantly affected a student's performance were the number of trained teachers, the type of school ownership, the availability of library facilities among others. In conclusion, the study helped in addressing the issue of optimum sample determination to provide relevant information on education performance of primary schools in Makindye Ssabagabo.