The impact of increased student enrolment on the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Mbale district

Abstract

DISSERTATION:

This research was developed on the basis of problems that arose with the introduction of UPE in Uganda especially, the problems associated with increased student enrolment. The enrolment in secondary has increased and yet the facilities and the resources in these secondary schools have not increased. The researcher was interested to see what effect this increased enrolment had on the academic performance of the secondary school students. The researcher took a study in Mbale district and selected three secondary school with 124 respondents, which were chosen as a representative sample. The methodology of this research was mainly quantitative but used qualitative techniques to supplement the hypotheses tested. The research tools used included questionnaires, interviews, participant observation and documentary analysis. It was found out that in many schools the enrolment had been increasing over time. The facilities and resources however were in dire need. Many schools had neither laboratories nor libraries. Co-curricular activities were not enforced due to lack of sports equipment and even sensitive departments like Math’s and English were understaffed. In light of this, the researcher recommend that more resources should be availed to all schools by the stake holders in the education system. Areas of further research were also recommended to support this research.