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Student’s placement by first choice and without at Mekelle University: The impact on academic performance
Abstract
Students usually take their ability into consideration when they choose higher institutions. They do such choices so that they can successfully complete courses and secure good jobs after graduation. However, students’ placement to different departments in Ethiopia higher institutions does not solely depend on the interest (choice) of students. Thus, the placement mechanism may have an impact on their performance. The main objective of this study is to evaluate whether there is a
significant difference in academic performance (CGPA) between students who are placed in their respective departments by their first choice (Group A) and students who are placed without their first choice (Group B). Among the total students of the first four batches of Mekelle University, only 172 graduates fulfill the selection criteria. For these students, their code number, their freshman CGPA, the departments they chose, the
department they were placed, their status and their final year CGPA were registered. Descriptive and nonparametric statistics of Sign test and Wilcoxon Composite rank sum tests were used to evaluate the performance difference between the two groups of students. Among the 172 students, most (140) were placed in different departments by
their first choice, while 32 of them (18.6%) were placed without their first choice. In all the first four batches of Mekelle University, the results revealed that there was no statistically significant difference of academic performance between the students who were placed by their first choice and those who were placed without (P<0.05). This study showed that the placement of students into different departments with/without
considering their first choice has no statistically significant impact on the academic performance of students. The findings of this research disagree to the logical expectation that “the main possible reason for low academic performance (CGPA) of students to be placement of students in different departments without their first choice or without giving priority to their interest of choice”.
significant difference in academic performance (CGPA) between students who are placed in their respective departments by their first choice (Group A) and students who are placed without their first choice (Group B). Among the total students of the first four batches of Mekelle University, only 172 graduates fulfill the selection criteria. For these students, their code number, their freshman CGPA, the departments they chose, the
department they were placed, their status and their final year CGPA were registered. Descriptive and nonparametric statistics of Sign test and Wilcoxon Composite rank sum tests were used to evaluate the performance difference between the two groups of students. Among the 172 students, most (140) were placed in different departments by
their first choice, while 32 of them (18.6%) were placed without their first choice. In all the first four batches of Mekelle University, the results revealed that there was no statistically significant difference of academic performance between the students who were placed by their first choice and those who were placed without (P<0.05). This study showed that the placement of students into different departments with/without
considering their first choice has no statistically significant impact on the academic performance of students. The findings of this research disagree to the logical expectation that “the main possible reason for low academic performance (CGPA) of students to be placement of students in different departments without their first choice or without giving priority to their interest of choice”.
