THE EFFECT OF VISUAL LEARNING AIDS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

THE EFFECT OF VISUAL LEARNING AIDS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS
 
ABSTRACT
This study thought to establish effect of visual learning aids on student’s academic performance in public secondary schools of Magu District. The study used a sample size of 102 people. The study examined the performance of four schools of Magu in the 2013 and 2014 National Form Four Examinations in which two schools used visual learning aids and two schools were not using. The study inquired also about the kind of aids used and their quality. The study also examined the factors that made some schools use the aids and the barriers in other schools, and lastly, the study inquired about other barriers that inhibited performance in public secondary schools in the District. Questionnaires, documentary reviews and cross-examination interviews were used to collect data. The outcomes were that Magu and Kitumba Secondary Schools which used learning aids had better results for the consecutive years of 2013 and 2014 in which 21.56% and 40.74% (Magu) and23.77% and 45.7% of Kitumba Secondary School got division one to three while for Kandawe Secondary School only 11.30% and 22.41% and for Itumbili it was 13.06% and 29.73% students respectively who got division one to three. District wise, Magu and Kitumba Secondary Schools held the position of 8th and 7th and Ktumba held 10th and 3rd positions in the two years. Kandawe held 16th and 17th and Itumbili held 10th and 14th positions out of 19 schools in the same years. It was further found that schools used learning aids which were in poor state, the greatest barrier being inadequate budget allocations. There were however other factors that affected the performance of students in the District which include; shortage of teachers, poverty of parents, lack of books and lack of laboratories.