Effect of Accommodation in Acadlemic Achievement: The Case of Addis Ababa Commer,cial College Students Who Come from Regions

Abstract

This study identffied some of the problems faced by Addis Ababa
Commercial College students who came from regions. It also compared the
academic performance of students from Addis Ababa and from regions. In
addition, ljIe academic performance of students from regions was compared
by gender. The study also looked at how the College officials perceived the
students' problems and what they did to help the students to overcome their
problems. The study concentrated on freshman entrants of the 199&'99
academic year. Qualitative (focused-group discussions, interviews and
observation) and quantitative (Means and ANOVA's were run) data were
used. The problems of the students as identil7ed in this study were financial
which included inadequate meals, poor housing conditions, problems of
electric light and utensils in the house, shortage of stationery and sanitary
materials: personal which included lack of self-confidence, homesickness,
feelings of loneliness, and adjustment problems; and also academic where
the above stated problems hindered them .from working hard to achieve
good grades. Comparison of the academic performance of students from
Addis Ababa and from regions proved sta~isticalfy ' significant difference
where those from Addis Ababa performed better. In contrast to this, the
comparison by gender among those from regions did not show any
statistically significant difference. The Colleg·e officials also recognized the
various problems the students experienced - mainly those which were
caused by lack of accommodation facility. They therefore tried to help the
needy, to supervise the students' lounge so that it provided what the
students could afford to check whether the supplies shop supplied
stationery with minim~1 cost, and to infonn the higher body about the
intensity of the students' problems. Finally, this study made some
recommendations on how to improve the students' living conditions