Academic Achievement among Adolescents: Locale and Gender Differentials

Description

Page: 397-402

Amrita Kaur and Seema Sharma (Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab)

This study aimed to explore the differences in academic achievement among adolescents with respect to locale and gender. The sample consisted of 520 students (260 males & 260 females), aged 16-18 years, equally drawn from rural and urban government senior secondary schools located in the Doaba, Majha, and Malwa regions of Punjab. Academic achievement was assessed using school records of the most recent examination results. Data analysis involved frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and z-test. The results showed that girls significantly outperformed boys in academic achievement, with a higher proportion achieving at a high level. Locale-wise analysis indicated no significant differences in academic achievement, although urban students performed better at the average level, while rural students excelled at the low and high levels. The findings highlight the role of both gender and locale in shaping academic outcomes and emphasize the need for context-sensitive educational strategies to enhance student achievement.