PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE AS A PREDICTOR OF THEORY IN BOTSWANA JUNIOR CERTIFICATE AGRICULTURE

Abstract

Students’ performance has shown a decline in several subjects in Botswana schools, while in Agricultural education, the decline has become consistent at all levels of education. This study assessed the predictive validity of students’ performance in practical based assessments and their performance in theory, a national standardized graded examination. A quantitative correlational design was adopted to assess the relationship between students’ performance in practical and their performance in theory from (N =156239) students who sat for 2014-2017 Final Junior Certificate Examinations in Agriculture. A simple regression analysis results showed that students’ performance in practicals significantly predicted their performance in theory showing that students’ performance in practical examinations play an important role in predicting their performance in theory. Findings of this study can be used as a point of reference by the Ministry of Basic Education to revisit the assessment of practical subjects such as Agriculture with a view to align them with the national long-term vision, goals and strategies.