Assessment Of Life Skills Training On Learners Self Confidence And Academic Achievement: The Case Of Jiren Secondary School In Jimma City Administration

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to examine assessment of life skill training on learners’ self-confidence and academic achievement. This study was a mixed research design which was composed of a quantitative descriptive survey and a qualitative narrative gained from the follow-up indepth interview. The sample of the study consists of 264 learners from 4 sections randomly selected from grade nine up to twelve among Jiren secondary school. The findings of the descriptive statistics showed that life skills training were very important for students’ day to day life activites as well as work . 197 (74.6%) of respondants confirmed this idea. On the other hand , the total meanscores of the items in relationship and communication were ( M 37.60 with SD 10.18). This showed the teaching of life skills training increased relationship and communication skills of learners in the study area. On the other hand the independent t-tests of relationship and communication (df, 261.5 t= 000), work and study life ( df,260.6 t=ooo ) , career and education planning (df,260.5 t=000) showed satiscally significant with P < 0.05. There was significant association between perceived confidence level of learners and life skill training X2 (21, n = 264) = 57.92, P = 0.001, this implies there is significant impact of life skill training on perceived self-confidence of learners There was no significant association between life skill training and academic achievement of learners X2 (107, n = 264) = 97.40a , P = 0.72, this indicates there is no difference between academic achievements among groups attending life skill training and not attending life skill training. On the other hand , the findings of this study support social cognitive theory which emphasizes that a strong sense of efficacy can be instilled to enhance human performance in different aspects of life (Schwarzer & Renner, 2013). Thus, people with high level of perceived self-efficacy, focus on how to achieve success rather than to disrupt personal concerns as they face problems. The findings revealed that students’ self-efficacy play an important role in managing life skills., The conclusions of the finding of the present study showed, the efficiency of life skills training on student’s relationships and communication competences. Students strongly believe in the importance of life skills. the following recommendations will be given for different concerned bodies : the school will be implemented the training into in its practical basis and taken the program as one the club in to extra co- curricular activities , the program wil be included in Jimma city education office’sn supervision activities and they will be prepared evaluation checkklists for evaluation and the succussfulness of the program, they will be prepared a periodic follow up schedule to support the program.