Promoting Internal Efficiency of Schools through Students' Characteristics

The individual differences among students are based on their various characteristics, which can either promote or adversely affect the internal efficiency of schools. Students’ characteristics are input indicators used to determine their learning outcomes. Firstly students’ prior performances are recorded in terms of grades, divisions and percentages and these positions are obtained on the basis of terminal examinations of the last year. This record is very important as it helps the school in proper placement of the students and provides access to their parents or guardians in case a child requires special help in academic area. Recording of prior performance is not an end in itself but a mean of determining the next stage of learning for the student and the teacher. Secondly demographics of students in terms of age, gender and ethnicity are recorded for better placement and relevant group of students. An efficient education system is one, which has high gross enrollment ratio, less drop-out rate, high transition and retention rate. Thirdly mobility of students from one school to another is due to various reasons i.e. migration of family, change of schools due to repetition, and opening of new school in the vicinity. Students and their homes are related factors and have significant influence on student academic achievement. Students’ background and students’ readiness to learn contribute significantly to secondary school academic performance.