Factors affecting Academic Performance of Undergraduate Science Students at Islamic University in Uganda

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the factors affecting academic performance of undergraduate science students in Islamic University in Uganda. The following are the specific objectives of this research: To find out the relationship between Instructional facilities and science student academic performance in Islamic University in Uganda, To find out the relationship between socioeconomic status and science student academic performance in Islamic University in Uganda, To find out the relationship between students’ attitude and science student academic performance in Islamic University in Uganda. The study employed the use of correlation design to establish the nature of these relationships. . Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Self- design questionnaire, structured observation and documentary review was used as a method of data collection. Three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study: There is no significant relationship between instructional/learning facilities and science students’ academic performance. There is no significant relationship between socioeconomic status and science students’ academic performance. There is no significant relationship between students’ attitude and their academic performance. The “Undergraduate Students academic performance questionnaire” (USPQ) with a reliability coefficient of 0.801 was administered on 210 students selected from three departments out of seven department in faculty of science in Islamic University in Uganda using the simple random sampling method. To analyze the data, the Pearson product moment correlation statistical tool was used. This formed the basis of the detailed summary, conclusions and recommendations. On the basis of the findings, the researcher made the following conclusions; that there is a positive relationship between learning/ instructional facilities and academic performance of undergraduate students; that there is inverse relationship between parents’ social economic status and academic performance of undergraduate students; and that there is no relationship between student`s attitude and academic performance of undergraduate students. Also on the basis of the findings the following recommendation were made: Islamic University in Uganda should provide adequate learning facilities that are able to arouse interest in the learners and to motivate them to work hard; it should devise means of paying special attention to students from low social economic backgrounds by providing them with financial aid or even a student loan scheme could be developed; and it should develop strict guidelines for student attendance and monitor factors that could hinder a student from attending lectures on a regular basis.