Demographic Factors and Students’ Academic Achievement in Tertiary Institutions in Ghana: A study of Wa Polytechnic

Abstract

Academic performance manifested in the class obtained is the indicator or the performance measure of academic achievement. However, the variation in achievement scores among students is indicative that there exist some factors that influence this situation. This study sought to investigate the influence of some demographic factors on students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Ghana. The study used primary data collected from graduating students of Wa Polytechnic. Both descriptive and explanatory techniques were used for the study. Simple regression analysis was employed to determine among others the combined effect of age and sex on academic performance. Statistical tests of significance were performed to determine the models reliability at predicting future outcomes. Tables and graphs were used to present these findings. Key findings of the study revealed that both age and sex were positively related to the class obtained. However, the coefficient of sex was statistically significant whereas that of age was not significant. Also, an increase (decrease) in age of male will decrease (increase) academic performance by that margin more than their female counterparts. The novel contribution of this study is to examine the role of the combined effect of age and sex on academic performance. Therefore, it is fit for counselors and policy makers to consider these background attributes in assessing and projecting the outcomes of students’ academic performance.

Keywords: Age, sex, demographic characteristics, polytechnics