Effectiveness of resource utilization on students’ academic performance in the Uganda certificate of education: case study government-aided secondary schools in Ngora district, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

This study sought to examine the effectiveness of resource utilization on students’ academic performance in U. C. E case of government-aided secondary schools in Ngora district in eastern Uganda. The study was guided by the following specific objectives. To find out the effect of material resource utilization on students’ academic performance in UCE case of government aided secondary schools in Ngora District. To establish the effect of human resource utilization on students’ academic performance in UCE case of government-aided secondary schools in Ngora District. To determine the effect of financial resource utilization on students’ academic performance in U C E case of government-aided secondary schools in Ngora district. To explore possible strategies adopted to ensure efficient resource utilization for improved students’ academic performance in Ngora district. The resources that were focused on were material, human and financial resources. The researcher employed descriptive study design to conduct the study. The target population consisted of 5 government-aided secondary schools in Ngora district, 5 head teachers and the District Education Officer were purposively selected while 163 teachers of the selected schools were randomly selected. Data from District Education Officer was collected through an interview schedule while data from head teachers and teachers was by means of questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The analyzed data was then presented using frequency tables, means, percentages and standard deviations. The study found out that material resource utilization had a moderate effect on students’ academic performance. It also established that human resource utilization had a moderate effect on students’ academic performance. Financial resource utilization had a high effect on students’ academic performance, it also found out that the strategies adopted in resource utilization for improved academic performance had a moderate effect on students’ academic performance. Based on these findings the following recommendations were made. The Ministry of Education should allocate more material resources to the schools, the heads of institutions should ensure effective and efficient utilization of resources to ensure the desired outcome. The Education service commission should employ more teachers to cater for the short fall observed in most schools, Heads of institutions should look for other means to generate finances to run school programs, Schools should put in place motivational programs for teachers so as to encourage them, Inspectorate department in the ministry of education should intensify on inspection to ensure that resources sent to schools are utilized effectively.