| dc.description |
There have been increase of new classroom construction from 2002 to 2006; still the problem of pupils-teacher ratio is alarming in both urban and rural primary schools in Tanzania. This study was concerned with the influence of class size and pupils-teacher ratio on pupils’ achievement outcomes in primary schools in Bukombedistrict.
The theoretical framework was grounded on conflict theory by Karl Marx 1864-1920 in attempting to explain teachers’ recruitment and retention in relation to school decentralization in ward secondary schools. The study was essentially quantitative in approach and it employed 100 primary schools. Empirical data were collected through pupil’s achievement outcomes analysis sheet that was developed by the researcher. Classroom Observation form was used to gather information from the classroom and from documentary evidence. The study finding revealed community participation in classroom construction, increasing teachers’ recruitment, enrolling the number of students in relation to the classroom available, paying high salary to the teaching profession to attract people to join the teaching profession, as the strategies for solving the issue of class size, pupils teacher ratio and pupils academic performance in public primary school.
Furthermore the study indicates no relationship between pupils’ teacher ratio and pupils’ academic performance but that there was relationship between class size and pupils academic performance. The findings indicate also that, there is relationship between class size and pupils’ academic performance because when the class size decreases pupils’ academic performance is shown to increase.
From the above findings the study recommends that, to reduce the intensity of pupils’ teacher ratio and class size there is a need for constructing more and enough classes as well as recruiting many teachers so as to reduce pupils’ congestion in the classrooms and to balance the ratio as recommended. Based on the most significant finding in this particular piece of research, it is concluded that class size and pupils-teacher ratio are very crucial issues in influencing pupils to acquire knowledge, skills and attitude that may be employed in different sectors of economy such as agriculture, industry, tourism to improve the economic advancement in the country. |
|