The Determinants of Academic Performance of Under Graduate Students: In the Case of Arba Minch University Chamo Campus

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the determinant factors affecting academic performance of regular undergraduate students of Arba Minch university (AMU) chamo campus students. The study employed the use of correlation design to establish the nature of the relationships. Data were collected from 100 respondents selected from all the 12 departments of Arba Minch university chamo campus students using the stratified sampling method. To analyze the data, the Pearson product moment correlation statistical tool and econometrics data analysis (OLS regression) method were used with the aim of establishing the relationship between factors related to student's background and family background on academic performance of regular undergraduate students at Arba Minch university chamo campus students. The findings revealed the existence of a significant relationship between gender difference, university entrance exam and studying hours and academic performance (CGPA). The findings also revealed that there was a significant relationship between students former academic back ground, studying hours, and student's behavior on taking of alcoholic drug and chat on academic performance of students. On the basis of the findings, the researcher recommended that emphasis should be taken to improve the academic performance of female students and improving students' performance earlier before the joined in to university. Chapter one 1. Introduction 1.1 back ground of the study Beyond any doubt education plays a pivotal role in the development and progress of a country. In a developing country education gains even more importance. (Sehersultaneta, 2010). The issue of poor academic performance of students in developing countries has been much concern at all. In developing countries the problem of poor academic performance leads to the widely acclaimed fallen standard of education. Government investment on higher education and its output in terms of student's achievement (good performance of students has been observed to be unequal with government expenditure. (ajao, 2001). Most of the developing countries are improving their system in an effort to increase their tertiary student's enrollment ratio. Ethiopia possesses a 1700 year tradition of elite education linked to the Orthodox Church. But secular higher educations were initiated in the year 1950 with the founding of university college of Addis Ababa. (William saint, 2004). Now a time the Ethiopian government has long recognized to the realization of higher education as a necessity and fundamental human development of the country and also the number of both governmental and nongovernmental higher institutions increased enough as compared with previous situations. In the year 2005 E.C. (2012/13) the total undergraduate enrolment (government and non-government; regular, evening, summer and distance programs) is 553,848 of which166, 141 are females which accounts for 30% of the total enrolment. In addition, 474,198 (85.6%) of the total undergraduate enrolment is in government institutions. undergraduate enrolment is highest in regular programs and lowest in distance programs. The distance program is the only program in which the non-government undergraduate enrolment is higher than the government enrolment. The regular program accounts for 57.4% of total undergraduate enrolment. Ethiopian undergraduate student's enrollment trend in regular program shows an increasing trend over time. For instance in the year 2001/2008/09 the total number of students in rolled in regular undergraduate level was counted as 157424, of the total students enrolled as an undergraduate female students account 28.95 % while the remaining 71.1% were male students. And also in the year 2004/2011/2012 the number of regular students enrolled as regular undergraduate program increased by 92805 or to 250229 [16]. As far as Arbaminch University is concerned in the year 2001/2007/08the number of undergraduate students enrolled in regular program was 10766, of the total number of students enrolled as undergraduate female students account 33.6% and the remaining 66% covered by male students. The enrollment statistics of the year 2004/2011/12 student's enrollment number increased by 17.9 % or to 13111. And also in the year 2005 E.C. (2012/13) the total undergraduate student's enrolment is increased to 14,438 Which 11,063 are males and 3,375are female. So the trend indicates that enrollment of undergraduate student's increases time to time [16]. 1.2. Statement of the problem Students' academic gain and learning performance is affected by numerous factors including gender, teaching