Optional Subject and Students’ Academic Performance of Class IX in Samdrupcholing Dungkhag

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine student’s preferences and factor influencing the choice of optional subject, to find which student perform better and mainly to analyze the effect of the optional subject on performances in Schools of Samdrupcholing Dungkhag. The survey method was used to collect data through a structured questionnaire survey. There was 220 student studying in class IX. The study showed that Class IX students generally preferred Computer Application subject. The main factors that influence the choice of an optional subject were interest on the subject followed by future career, an influence of seniors, teachers, and schools. The descriptive analysis showed that Economic student performs better than Computer Application and Environmental Science taking student. To make concrete findings on which student perform better further statistical test is required. The moderation analysis indicated significant interaction effect of Computer Application subject on performance and gender (p = .03), student type (p < .001), Day school (p = .001) and Central school (p = .07). Economic subject showed significant interaction effect on performances and parent involvement in students’ academic (p = .04), parents’ qualification (p = .004), and Central school (p = .009). Environmental Science subject showed a significant effect on performances and student type (p = .001), Day school (p = .002) and boarding school (p = .02). There is a need for further inquiry and study to include the factors like teachers, assessment mode, socio-economic factor and more to analyze the effect.