Factors Influencing Academic Performance of Youth In-Out of Agricultural Training Project of the Ban-Dhan Community School, Mu 4 and 5, Tambol Kow-Taew, Songkhla Province.

Abstract

The purposes of the research were to study (1) the profile of youth in-out of agricultural training project in terms of socio-economic factors, (2) the attitude of youth toward the environment in school, (3) the relationship of socio-economic factors and academic performance of youth in-out of agricultural training project and (4) the socio-economic factors influencing academic performance. The respondents were 117 youths in-out of agricultural training project from Ban-Dhan Community School. Questionnaire was used as a tool. The data were analysed through percentage, mean, correlation and multiple regression. The results were as follows : 1) Most of the youth participated in extra-curricular activities but few of therm received less scholarships ; 2) they showed higher interest in their subjects, especially agricultural subjects such as vegetable cropping, chicken raising, mushroom culture and apiculture ; 3) the number of hours devoted to work such as doing assignment and reading were 1 to 2 hours per day ; and 4) the daily allowance received from their parents were 5-7 baht. The attitudes of youths toward the environment in school were : 1) they received good care from classroom-teacher ; 2) creative thinking’s atmosphere was mostly done; 3) more fun, more skills and more relations with other people were gained when they had hard time; 4) they had more opportunity to consult with their classroom teacher or school counselor, there with the school master. Regarding their attitude toward general services in school, the followings were forwd : 1) quite a few text books were in the library ; 2) the time spent for each subject were so long that they had not much for activity. Results : sex was significantly and positively correlated with academic performance. Similarly, age was significantly and negatively correlated with academic performance. Besides, interest in various subject and health status were significantly and positively correlated with academic performance. Two predictors : namely sex and age showed significant influence on the academic performance of all youth. Recommendation : 1) Seminar among teachers in each particular subject should be held at least once or twice a year in order to held the low ability students to improve there academic performance. 2) more teaching aids should be provided to enhance the students’ knowledges and skills; 3) Peer tutoring among student should be initiated as one of the extra-curricular activities in school supervised by the teacher of each particular subject ; 4) The school administrators should support their subordinates on morale and spirit in teaching and learning to teachers ; 5) More basic researches should be undertaken to understand the background need and attitude of youth toward learning and teaching in school.