A Study on Selection of Science Stream in Advanced Level by The Studentsin The Batticaloa Educational Zone

Abstract

A research study was carried out on selection of Science stream in advanced level by the students in the Batticaloa Educational Zone. Study was confined to Batticaloa Educational Zone and simple random sampling technique was used to select three schools posses advanced level in this educational zone, namely Bt/ Kallady Vivekananda Girls Maha Vidyalaya, Bt/ Vincent Girls High School and Bt/ Shivananda Vidyalaya (National school). Thirty students from each school (Fifteen students from science stream and another fifteen from non science stream) were randomly selected to make the total sample size as ninety respondents. Primary objective of this research was to study the selection of science stream in advanced level by the ordinary level passed students in the schools of Batticaloa Educational zone. Specific objectives were to find out the reasons for not selecting the Science stream in their advanced level by the students, to find out the factors influencing the selection of study stream in the advanced level and to find out the relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the students and the selection of study stream in their advanced level. Primary data required for the study gathered from the selected students and staff. Structured Questionnaires were used for this purpose. Secondary data required for this study were gathered from relevant departments. Data collected were analysed by using SPSS 13.0 Results of the study indicated that, correlation between selection of study stream in the advanced level and the family education index is significant at the 0.05 level. Number of female students selecting science stream in their advanced level is in an increasing rate. There is no correlation between family income and selection of stream in advanced level. Factors like, good IQ skills, good English knowledge, and need more library references are highly influencing the selection of non science stream in the advanced level. Further studiest which include other educational