An Inquiry into the Influences of Overcrowded Classroom on the Academic Achievement of Students at Secondary School Level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This study aimed to explore the influences of overcrowded classroom on the academic achievement of students at secondary school level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Objective of the study was to explore the effect of overcrowded classroom on the academic achievement of students. Mixed method approach was applied for this research study. Sample of the study consisted of 600 10th grade students, 143 secondary school teachers and 30 principals selected through multistage cluster and simple random sampling technique. Quantitative data collected for the last five years result(2013-17) of 10th grade students from the Gazette book and also through self-developed questionnaires. Items of the questionnaire were developed on the basis of the problems of overcrowded classrooms with five point's Likert type rating scale. Qualitative data collected from the principals through interview. The results showed that there was a very weak correlation between the 10th grade students enrolled and their pass percentage in the SSC(A) exams for the years 2013-17. The study showed that there was much agreement between the views of teachers, students and principals on the issue. It was concluded from the current study that an overcrowded classroom can influences the student's academic achievement. The study confirmed that all the sampled secondary schools were lacking enough classrooms, teaching staffs and mostly the classrooms were overcrowded. It was recommended that class size may be of 35 students, shortage of teaching staffs and additional classrooms may be constructed to overcome the problem of overcrowded classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]