SOME ALTERNATIVE PREDICTORS OF FRESHMAN GPA ALONG WITH THE ESLCE IN ETHIOPIAN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

Abstract

The issue of student selectionfor hjgher education in Ethiopia remains
to be a subject of scientific inquiry despite the various attempts of researchers to
tackle the problem. This paper is a further attempt to shade light on this pressing
issue. More specifically, it is designed to (I) assess the predictive validity of th.e
existing admission criterion (i.e. ESLCE GPA), (2) explore other possible potent
predictors of achievement and aptitude, (3) find out if there is a need to fit separate
regression equation for the various faculties, and (4) determine the effect of certain
background variables on the selected predictor.a for inclusion in the regression
equation. Subjects of the study include 256 randomly selectedfreshman students from
the three faculties of AA U (Medicine, /itltural Science, and Social Science) and
Alemaya Agricultural University in f99I. The analysis is carried out using the
correlation and regression mf)(fels along with other descripti,ve and inferential
statistical techniques. Resuffs show that three alternative measures have significant
predictive power with differing weights across faculties, the two sexes, and the place
high school is attended ImplicatiOns are discussed and suggestion are given.