School plant and academic achievement of secondary school students in Nakaloke town council of Mbale district, Uganda.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to study the relationship between school plant and academic achievement of secondary school students in Nakaloke town council of Mbale district, Uganda. The objectives were to find out the relationship between school buildings and academic achievement of secondary school students’ in Nakaloke town council, to find out the relationship between classroom facilities and academic achievement of secondary school students’ in Nakaloke town council and to find out the relationship between laboratory equipment and academic achievement of secondary school students’ in Nakaloke town council. A correlational research design was used to gather detailed information from respondents. Population of the study constituted five (5) secondary schools with 2368 persons. Comprising eighty three (83) teachers, two thousands two hundreds and eighty five (2285) students in Nakaloke secondary schools, Uganda. The sample size of the study was drawn from four secondary schools in the area comprising 10 teachers and 310 students respectively. The simple random sampling technique was used to distribute 320 questionnaires to the respondents for the study. The researcher used questionnaire and observation as instruments in collecting data from both teachers and students in the study. The major findings of this study as computed using Pearson’s Product Moment correlation shows that, school buildings have high positive relationship to students’ academic achievement. Also, classroom facilities have weak positive relationship to students’ academic achievement. And finally, laboratory equipment have negligible positive relationship to students’ academic achievement. As a result of the above findings, the null hypotheses which stated that there is no statistically significant relationship between school buildings, classroom facilities, laboratory equipment and academic achievement were rejected. The researcher recommended that the school should provide spacious classrooms for free passage of teachers and students which can be done through building more classes in the schools. The study further recommended that there is need to provide sickbay and adequate medical facilities to cater for sick students. Notice board in the classrooms and computers in the laboratories should also be provided and proper maintenance should be ensured for their continuous good working condition which will consequently improve academic achievement of secondary school students in Nakaloke town council of Mbale district, Uganda.