The Relationship between Student Performance in a First Year Agriculture Course and Pass at Advanced Level: The Case of Plant Biology at the University of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The threat of cuts in government funding to state universities in Zimbabwe has meant that the state-funded universities must start reviewing ways in which to raise their own revenue. One option is to increase the number of students, which in many cases means lowering the entrance qualifications of degree programmes. In 2001, the University of Zimbabwe doubled the intake into first year at the request of the government. An analysis of one affected course, Plant Biology of the first year of the BSc Honours in Agriculture Degree, was carried out due to the high failure rate (39%). There was also a failure rate of 44% for those students with less than 8 points at A-Level and a failure rate of 32% for those with 8 or more points at A-Level. This was significant using α = 0.10 (p = 0.051). When the pass in Advanced Level Biology was examined, it was found that there was a significant decrease in the average pass mark for students that had less than a 'C' in Advanced Level Biology (p = 0.001). It is recommended that the grade of 'C' or better for Advanced Level Biology should not be changed. For students that registered after the beginning of the semester, there was a decrease in their overall marks for the course (p = 0.017). It is recommended that students who register late should be given make-up lectures, practicals and assignments.