Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

First Supervisor/Advisor

Mussa Mohamed

Second Supervisor/Advisor

Dr. Fortidas Bakuza

Department

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Abstract

This study explored the effects of streaming students according to their academic abilities by assessing the positive and negative effects associated with such conduct. A qualitative research approach with a case study design was adopted. The study sample size comprised of three teachers (One academic teacher, and two classroom teachers) who were purposively sampled; and 16 form two students who were stratified sampled. The interview guide, focus group discussion guide and document analysis protocol were employed as data collection instruments. The study found that streaming increases inequalities between students as students in lower classes are being labeled hence feel inferior before their fellow from higher streams. Being in the lower class is regarded as failure and no serious measures are taken by teachers to uplift these students academically. Students in lower streams perform worse than those in higher streams hence being at a higher risk of dropping out of school which jeopardizes their best future careers in life. Students in lower streams have no role model from whom they can learn from as this reduces their chances to improve academically. On the other hand, the study found that even though students were streamed but no proper treatment was given accordingly to help the weak and strengthen the higher students, classroom instructions and assessment tasks were the same for both streams which disqualifies the whole process of streaming. Few teachers especially in science subjects, inadequate teaching, and learning resources were also found as factors for the failure of proper implications of streaming. However, it was found that streaming has helped higher students to achieve better academically due to their interaction and more teacher attention toward them hence generate a sense of being superior towards other low achiever students. Nevertheless, the study recommends that there is a need to for teachers to be educated on the diverse needs of students so as they can help them accordingly. Also students should be educated of their indifference in learning and accept their conditions for better improvement in learning.

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