Comparative Study of Students Academic Performance between Private and Public Higher Secondary Schools of Wah Cantt

Abstract

This paper was designed to compare students’ academic performance between the private and public higher secondary schools in Wah cantt. The objectives of the study were i) To find out difference in academic performance public Higher secondary school students. ii) To find out difference in academic performance private Higher secondary school students. iii) To find out variables that are responsible for this difference(s) iv) What measures can be put in place to improve the situation. The sample consist of 240 students who were randomly selected from the private and public higher secondary schools in Wah Cantt. Two instruments were used. A structured questionnaire and Pupils’ Achievement Test (PAT) in three core-subject areas of the School Curriculum namely: English Language, Mathematics and Social Studies. While the questionnaire was used to collect relevant bio- data of the respondents, the instrument on achievement tests (PAT) was used to collect data on students' performance in the three subjects involved in the study. Data were analyzed using frequency count, simple percentages and Z-test. Results showed that students in the private Higher secondary schools performed better than their counterparts in the public schools and therefore call for improvement in the public schools to enhance the learning opportunity of the vast majority of pupils attending the public schools.

Keywords: students; academic performance; public schools; private schools