The Influence of Off Campus Residence on Academic Performance at the University of Dar es Salaam Main Campus
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Date
1985
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study was an attempt to gather some evidence of whether or not the type of residence a student had an influence on academic performance. Members of the University of Dar es Salaam Teaching and Learning Improvement Committee (UTLIC) were in an opinion that none—residence had adverse influence on academic performance. Harboring similar views as UTLIC members were the Compulsory none—residents and the University of Dar es Salaam Students’ Government (MUWATA). This study therefore, had three purposes. First the study sought to find a trend of academic performance of Resident and None—resident students in the 1900—1983 period. Secondly the study sought to find there was any difference in coursework performance in 44 courses taken in first and second year in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management and Law of the University of Dar es Salaam. Thirdly the study sought to find if there was any difference in examination achievement in 44 courses taken in first and second year in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and Management and Law of the University of Dar es Salaam. Two hypotheses guided the study. The first hypothesis anticipated that there would be no significant difference in coursework performance between Resident and Non—Resident students in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management and law of the University of Dar es Salaam, The Second hypothesis anticipated that there would be no significant difference in examination achievement between Resident and Non—resident students in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management and law of the University of Dar es Salaam. The study sample consisted of 106 Resident and 106 Non-resident students enrolled in 1903/04 academic year in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management and law of the University of Dar es Salaam. The 1903/04 academic year was purposively selected because it was the year when Compulsory none—residence policy started to operate. Faculties of Engineering and Science students were not included in this investigation because the number of none—residents was too small to give reliable sample results. Two data collection techniques were employed. The first technique was review of documents on academic performance obtained from the University of bar es Salaam Examination Office and Offices of Deans of Faculties and Director of Development Studies. The second technique utilized was the questionnaires’’ which sought characteristic features of Resident and Non—resident students. Findings on a documentary review which sought to find the trend of academic performance during the 1900—1903 period showed that: (i) when ittest was used at p=0.05 there was no significant difference in course work performance between resident and non resident students in the facult of commerce and management of the university if Dar es salaam (ii) Resident Students in all faculties had a slightly higher GPA and Examination mean scores than Non—residents; (iii) Faculties of Commerce and management, Engineering and Science registered a higher percentage of discontinued Non—resident students than residence and (iv) Non—residents registered a higher percentage of students referred to do supplementary examinations in faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management, Engineering, and Science of the University of Dar es Salaam. These findings suggested that none—residence and adverse influence on academic performance. But the influence was statistically not significant. The first hypothesis, that there would be no significant difference in coursework performance between Resident and Non—resident students in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management and law of the University of Dar es Salaam, using t test at p = 0.05, showed that there was no significant difference in coursework performance between Resident and Non—resident students an thirty—nine out of forty—four courses investigated. The hypothesis was thus supported. The results of the findings were as expected since Coursework Assessment is in the form of assignments and essays. Students are free to discuss answers to the problems Given as assignments before assignments are assessed and thus equal performance Coursework is highly likely. Findings on the second hypothesis, that there would be no significant difference in examination achievement between Resident and Non—resident students in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce and management and law of the University of es Salaam, using t test at p = 0.05, revealed that there was no significant difference in exanimations achievement between Resident and Non—resident students in forty—one out of forty—four courses investigated. However, using the mean statistics, it was found that Residents obtained higher examination mean scores in twenty seven out of forty—four courses investigated. The poor academic achievement in certain courses by the Non —residents was attributed to transport problems and family commitments. The study therefore recommended that the Non —residents be helped to have reliable transport to and from the University and that students of good academic standing only should be permitted to be non—residents.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr.Wilbert Chagula Library, class mark ( THS EAF LG571.D3S56)
Keywords
Dar es Salaam, University, Students housing, Academic achievements
Citation
Sipemba, Sidney Betram Absalom Yoas (1985) The Influence of Off Campus Residence on Academic Performance at the University of Dar es Salaam Main Campus, Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam