Learning Resources and Academic Performance of Learners in Selected Secondary Schools in Mbarara Municipality, Mbarara District, Uganda.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

DEFINITIONS viii

ABSTRACT ix

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 2

1.3 Purpose of the Study 2

1.4 Research Objectives 3

1.4.1 General Objective 3

1.4.2 Specific Objectives 3

1.5 Research Questions 3

1.6 Scope of the study 3

1.6.1 Content Scope 3

1.6.2Timescope 4

1.6.3 Geographical scope 4

1.7 Significance of the Study 4

CHAPTER TWO 6

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.0 Introduction 6

2.1 Concepts, Opinions, Ideas for Authors/Experts 6

2.2 The Roles of Learning Resources and academic performance 6

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2.3 Sufficient and Appropriate Resources 9

2.4 Theoretical Framework 9

2.4 Effective ways of improving students’ academic performance 12

2.5 The Impact of Sufficient and Appropriate Resources on Academic Performance 13

2.7 Solutions to Improve on the Assessment of Learning and the Resources 15

3.0 Introduction 18

3.1 Research design 18

3.2 Population study 18

3.3 Sample frame work 18

3.3.1 Sampling techniques 19

3.3.2 Sampling procedure 19

3.4 Research instruments 19

3.2.2. Research interview 20

3.4.1. Questionnaires 20

3.4.2 Interviews 20

3.4.3 Observation 20

3.5 Sources of data collection 21

3.5.1 Primary data 21

3.5.2 Secondary data 21

3.6 Data processing 21

3.7 Data analysis 21

CHAPTER FOUR 22

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSIONS 22

4.0 Introduction 22

4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents 22

4.2 The Roles of Learning Resources and Ability 24

4.3 Impacts of learning resources and academic performance in academics 25

4.4 Solutions to Improve on the Assessment of Learning and the Resources 27

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Solutions to Improve on the Assessment of Learning and the Resources 27

CHAPTER FIVE 30

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 30

5.0. Introduction 30

5.1. Summary of the findings 30

5.1.1 The role of learning resources on the academic performance 30

5.1.2 The impacts of learning resources on academic performance 31

5.1.3 Solutions and ways of improving the learning resources 31

5.1.4. Results from Cambridge Exams (ESOL) 32

5.2 Conclusions 32

5.5 Recommendations 32

5.5.1 To the administration 32

5.5.2 To the teachers 33

5.5.3 Totheparents 33

5.5.4 To students 34

5.6 Area of future researchers 35

ABSTRACT The research study was carried out in Mbarara Municipality Mbarara district. The research was basically based on a topic: “Learning resources and academic performance of learners in selected secondary schools in Mbarara Municipality Mbarara district. The research was guided by a number of objectives which included the following; to find out effective ways of improving students’ ability, to establish the impact of learning resources on students’ performance in Mbarara Municipality Mbarara district, to determine solutions to improve on the assessment of biology learning and the resources used. The study was to determine the roles of learning resources and biology performance on learners’ performance as well as to identify appropriate and sufficient learning resources for teaching/learning Learning resources and biology performance of learners in selected secondary schools. In identifying the objectives, the research was limited on appropriate learning resources and Learning resources and performance of learners in selected secondary schools in Mbarara Municipality Mbarara district and it covered ability; and sufficient learning resources. In finding the research intentions, Questionnaires were issued out to 200 respondents from which data was obtained on the roles of learning resources and covered ability. Interviews were held with secondary schools pupils, respondents plus the head teachers and class teachers on matters of the related topic. In the analysis of the findings, Teachers’ Questionnaires were collected and analyzed so as to obtain data on appropriate and sufficient learning resources available for teaching. Students’ Questionnaires were not analyzed but were used ix to ascertain the sincerity of the teachers in filling the questionnaire. The methods used in scoring the items of the questionnaire were as follows: In conclusion, the use of inadequate and impropriate resources is therefore the cause of learners inability and poor performance.