The Impact of Class Size, Academic Infrastructure, and Socioeconomic Status on Academic Achievement of Student at Schools in Pakistan

Abstract

Education plays an important role in the economic development of a country. Class size is the major factor that affects the student's academic performance. This research examines the impact of class size, academic infrastructure, and socioeconomic status on English scores, Math scores, Reading scores, and total exam scores in the schools of Pakistan. In this study, the dependent variables are English scores, Math scores, Reading scores, and total exam scores whereas class size, teacher effectiveness, family background, parents' income, school type, medium of school, and regions have been taken as potential predictors of the models. This research utilized annual pooled cross-sectional data from 2013 to 2021 taken from ASER (The Annual Status of Educational Report) and applied the ordinary least square (OLS) as an estimation technique. The estimates found a negative and significant relationship between English, Math, Reading, and total exam scores and class size. In addition, the impact of school index, teacher effectiveness, teacher training, household index, school type, and parent education have been found positive and significant. The research indicates that private schools perform better than government schools. The medium of school is also significant; our results show that English medium schools perform well. Therefore, the results suggest that the government should reduce the class size/student teacher ratio. Further, the Pakistan government should invest in the education sector to improve and enhance their staff training and knowledge through different training programs and upgrade their systems to fulfill their requirements and productive outputs. There should be initiatives taken to guarantee that those schools offer sufficient education. Pakistan is importantly concerned about the unemployment of educated men and women. Students should receive career counseling at schools to develop their talents appropriately and gain an awareness of job prospects.