Determinants of University Student’s Academic Achievements and Gender Differences: The Case of Addis Ababa University Main Campus

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess university students’ academic achievement and identify the factors that determines the differences in academic achievement between gender. Purposive sampling techniques was used to select study site, whereas we used accidental sampling to draw respondents. Questionnaires was distributed to 75 students while, qualitative data was obtained from 12 interviewees. Quantitative data was analyzed by ordinal logit and logistic regressions, whereas qualitative date was analyzed by describing of respondents’ opinion. The result of ordinal logit model revealed that high school type, family income, and whether students live in dorm, mother education and university entrance score positively influences students’ academic achievements. Regarding, the differences in academic performances, more than half (59.15%) of respondents stated that, there was difference in academic achievement between genders. Accordingly, nearly more than half (54.35%) of respondents and highest proportion of interviewee stated that boys were better than female students. The result of logistic regression shows that family income, mothers education, fathers occupation, mothers occupation and CGPA have a significant association with the gender difference in academic performance.  Therefore, students for excellent academic performance requires in addition to other factors a good home and school environment.  For excellent academic performances students require very good high school type and university entrance score.  Furthermore, in order to reduce gender gap and disparity in education attainment, female students should be empowered though adequate training, guidance, tutor and consoling in and outside of the class.

Keywords: Gender and education; Difference between gender; Gender roles; university education; Ethiopia; Addis Ababa