A Study on Socio-Economic Status of Secondary School Students in Relation to their Educational Aspiration in the Science Subject in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The socio-economic status of the family and their educational aspiration are important in determining effective and valid performance of their achievements in schools. The Objective of this study is to find out the correlation of Socio Economic Status (SES) and Educational Aspiration (EA) in secondary school students in urban and Semi-urban area in the Batticaloa district.  Finding the correlation between these variables can assist educators in determining instructional strategies that best fit each individual student.

In this study was a design survey method was used and directed at the population of secondary students in the Batticaloa district of Eastern Province in Sri Lanka. Sixteen schools of 1AB, 1C, and Type 2 grades were selected from this research area. These schools were stratified into urban (7) and semi-urban (9) schools. 640 students who studied in grade 9 and 13 science and mathematics stream were selected at random. 40 samples was selected grade13 selected from each 1AB school, 30 samples in grade 9 were selected from all school.  The average age of the students is 13.8 (early adolescent) and 17.9 (late adolescent). The research instruments, questionnaire format titled Student's Questionnaire; it's to measure the student's SES and with teacher responses about the student's attitude to their aspiration. Reliability was checked by test – retest after two weeks for the SES. The very high correlations obtained reveal the reliability of the instruments of measurement. Null hypotheses were postulated from specific objectives and tested at 0.05 level of significant to determine how the impact of socio-economic status correlates on students' achievement in science. The data was collected through questionnaire related to the variable. Qualitative and quantitative method (mixed method) was used to analysis. Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) which include Chi-Square test, t – test and Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient was used in analyses.  

Only when the SES of the parents is high, there is a significant relationship between this and students' EA.  When the SES of the parents is low, there is no significant relationship between this and students' EA.  Further when the sub-variables of SES is observed there is a significant relationship between FO, PE, and FI and students' AM, at the same time there is no relationship between FO, PE, and FI and the sub-variables of EA (SC and SAE).  That is, EA of the children will not be satisfied the parents whose SES is low.  At the same time, the EA of the children will be satisfied the parents whose SES is high, and there is a close relationship between FO, PE, and FI of the family and the AM of the children which is to be given by the parents.  But there is no relationship between FO, PE, and FI of the family and SC and SAE.