SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND ACHIEVEMENT: A SURVEY STUDY OF STUDENTS AT SECONDARY LEVEL

This study was aimed to determine the effect of gender and socioeconomic status (SES) on the achievement of the students at secondary level. Multi stage sampling technique was used to draw the sample of 200 SSC students (101 males and 99 females) from randomly selected four government schools of Lahore. SES scale and score of previous class of students were used to conduct this study. A self- developed socioeconomic status measuring questionnaire was used as instrument of the study. It was comprised of ten factors of socio-economic status. The factors included parental education, monthly income, parents’ occupation, residence, facilities, transportation and property.  Data were analyzed through t-test and ANOVA. The differences among achievement scores on the basis of SES were analyzed by applying ANOVA, while t-test was used to calculate the difference between achievement scores of male and female students. Findings showed that there was significant difference in achievement scores of students on the basis of SES, and no difference was identified in achievement scores on the basis of gender. It is recommended that by improving the school environment the poor masses (including male and female students) can be given with scholarships and bias free education.