Learning Environment and Educational Efficiency in Selected Public and Private Universities in Central Uganda

Abstract

The study delved into the relationship between learning environment and educational efficiency. Sought further in this study were as follows; (1) Demographic characteristics of respondents?; (2) Levels of learning environment and educational efficiency?; (3) significant differences in the level of learning environment between public and private universities?; ( 4) teachers' attributes as perceived by teachers and student?; (5) educational wastage between the public and private universities?; (6) potential ability to enter into the job market between the male and female students? And (7) Significant relationship between the levels of learning environment and educational efficiency? The ex-post facto, descriptive comparative and correlation design were utilized. Three hundred eighty seven teachers and third year students were selected through purposive and stratified random sampling. Standardized research instruments on learning environment and external efficiency, and a checklist on internal efficiency were used. Frequency tables and percentage distributions, t-test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and Analysis of Variance were utilized to statistically analyze the data collected. Majority of the teachers were male (73%), early adulthood (77%), Ugandans (78%), had experience of less than five years (43%) and had master's degree (73%). The findings revealed that: majority of the students' respondents were males (68%); in the early adulthood age (95%), and Ugandans (54%). Levels of learning environment (2.85) and potential ability to enter into the job market were high (3.24). There was no significant difference in the levels of learning environment between private and public universities (Sig. =0.185) and potential ability to enter the job market between the female and male students but there was a significant difference in the level of teacher attributes between the teachers and students Sig.=O.OOO). The level of learning environment was found not to be correlated the level of educational wastage while it greatly affected the potential ability of graduates of to enter into the job market. The level of educational wastage was not significantly different between private and public universities. It was concluded that the learning environment was not correlated with internal efficiency while it had a high association on the external efficiency. It was recommended that universities should create and activate alumni associations and strong career guidance and counseling department, the class size should be enlarged. Educational wastage should be addresses even at lower levels of education.