CLASS SIZE AS A PREDICTOR OF STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN TECHNICAL DRAWING IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigated the extent to which class size predicts students' academic performance
in Technical Drawing in Technical Colleges in Edo State, Nigeria. The persistent
underperformance of students in Technical Drawing in national examinations has drawn
attention to the role of the learning environment, particularly class size, in shaping student
achievement in technical colleges. The study adopted a correlational research design. The target
population consisted of 1,129 Tech I–III students enrolled in Engineering and Construction
Trades across five technical colleges in Edo State. A sample of 330 Tech II students was
purposively selected for the study. Data were collected through two validated instruments: the
Class Size Scale (CSS) and the Technical Drawing Achievement Test (TDAT). The split-half
reliability method yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.78 for the CSS, while 303 properly
completed instruments were found suitable for data analysis. Pearson product-moment
correlation and simple linear regression were employed for data analysis at a 0.05 significance
level. The findings established a negative, low, but statistically significant relationship between
class size and students' academic performance in Technical Drawing (r = −.35, p < .01).
Furthermore, regression analysis confirmed that class size was a significant predictor of
academic performance, explaining 12% of the variance in student achievement. The study
therefore concluded that larger class sizes are associated with diminished academic
performance in Technical Drawing. Consequently, it was recommended that class sizes in
technical colleges be reduced in accordance with the standards prescribed by the National
Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Additional recommendations included the recruitment
of more qualified teachers and the provision of adequate instructional resources to enhance
students' learning outcomes in Technical Drawing.
