Major Factors that Affect Grade 10 Students’ Academic Achievement in Science Education at Ilu Ababora General Secondary of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to explore the factors that affect grade10 students‟ academic achievement in science education at Ilu Aba Bora Zone of General Secondary Schools. To attain this objective, descriptive survey research method was employed. The subjects of the study were 360 (172 male and female 155 students, 25 science teachers, 2 laboratory technicians and 6 school principals). Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling (lottery method) technique was employed to select the sample students, purposive sampling technique was used to select the schools and availability sampling method was employed for science subject teachers, laboratory technicians and school principals. To gather the necessary data, questionnaire, and interview, observation and document analysis were used. The gathered information was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis. The result of the study showed that students were stagnantly engaged in traditional methods of teaching science education. Of major teaching science methodologies, small group (one to five) discussion (M = 4.0) method was the most dominant approach followed by gapped-lecture and whole class discussion, which are not pedagogically supported in teaching science education of the modern time. Out of laboratory sessions, with statistically no significant difference between male and female students, they favored science education negatively and poorly involved in practicing it. 85.97% of activities in science educations of grade 9 and 10 were absolutely not done in the laboratory, which hinder students‟ understanding to handle science education easily. The study also revealed that, non-proficiency in English Language becomes an obstacle for students to grasp the concepts of science education. Although the professional supports of science teachers to their students were relatively fair (M = 3.2), they have not used their maximum potential to implement science education effectively. Parental involvement, peer pressure, schools support (regular attendance, providing facilities, evaluating the effectiveness of teaching learning, giving guidance) and other stakeholders commitment to enhance students‟ science education were very near to the ground. Lastly, absence of laboratory chemicals, rooms, apparatuses, technicians and well organized laboratory manuals were negatively affected the effective implementation of science education and students‟ academic achievement as well. Thus, based on the findings of the study, recommendations were forwarded to alleviate the aforementioned problems.