Influence of Fishing Activities on Pupils’ Academic Achievement: A Case of Kagwara Landing Site, Serere District, Uganda.

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to establish the influence of pupils’ participation in fishing activities on academic achievement; a case of Kagwara landing site Primary Schools. The study was guided by the following research objectives: (i). To find out the fishing activities that the learners in the primary schools around Kagwara landing site are engaged in. (ii). To establish the influence of fishing activities on the learners’ school attendance in the primary schools around Kagwara landing site. (iii). To establishes the influence of fishing activities on the learners’ academic achievement in the primary schools around Kagwara landing site. A cross sectional study design was used. Both the qualitative and quantitative research approaches were also used. The sample of the study consisted of 256 pupils, 20 teachers, 8 school administrators, 36 parents and 8 community leaders. Simple random sampling, purposive and convenient sampling was done to select the respondents. Data sources used were: the self-administered questionnaires, individual interviews and document analysis (admission books and class registers). Quantitative data was analysed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 16, in particular frequency tables and Pearson’s correlation coefficients qualitative data analysed using the grounded theory. Qualitative data was also collected through key informant interviews and all the responses were noted to find the emergent themes in responses. The findings of this study showed that some of the learners were engaged in the fishing activities and they contributed to the livelihood of their families through these fishing activities. Involvement of Learners in fishing activities could not enable them to attend school regularly and hence causing gaps in their learning programs and thus poor academic achievement. The study concludes that while fishing and its related activities contributed to families’ livelihood, they negatively influence the learners’ school attendance and academic achievement. It recommends that learners do fishing activities during weekends and holidays. The school administrators and all other stake holders should co – operate to ensure that children attend school regularly and teaching and learning be carried out systematically and effectively through close support supervision.