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.