The impact of sugarcane growing on learners' academic performance in primary schools of Iwemba sub-county, Bugiri district, Uganda.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
The study sought to ascertain the “The impact of sugarcane growing on learners' academic performance in primary schools of Iwemba Sub-county, Bugiri District, Uganda.” The study was guided by the following specific objectives: i) to examine the influence of learners' involvement in sugarcane farming activities on their academic performance in primary schools of Iwemba Sub-county, ii) determine the effect of parental involvement in sugarcane growing on learners' academic performance and iii) establish the relationship between time spent on sugarcane related activities and learners' academic performance. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches that targeted a population of 380 respondents comprising of ; parents, teachers and learners who were expected to provide the required information. Using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table of sample determination, questionnaires and interview guide were sued to 302 respondents whose views were used to collect data. To get quality data, the researcher ensured that the instruments were valid by conducting a preliminary (pilot) survey and SPSS to determine their reliability. In objective one, the findings indicate that the majority of respondents 218 (81.6%) confirmed that pupils participate in sugarcane farming before, during and after school. Objective two found out that sugarcane growing positively contributes to education through increased household income which facilitates; purchase of scholastic materials 206 (77.2 %), payment of school dues224 (83.9%) and improves pupils' welfare both at home and school (74.2%). For objective three, it was clear that absenteeism; leads to frequent missed classes during harvesting periods poor performance scores and dropping out of school.
The study concluded that child involvement in sugarcane-growing activities negatively affects learners' academic performance. It also specfed that sugarcane growing contributes positively to household income, thereby facilitating provision of scholastic materials, payment of school dues, and improvement of children's welfare. The study also concluded that school attendance is a critical determinant of learners' academic performance as frequent absenteeism during planting and harvesting seasons contributes to poor examination performance and school dropout County. The study recommended that; parents should minimize children's involvement in sugarcane-related activities during school days and allocate sufficient time for pupils to attend school and revise their work, Schools and teachers should monitor attendance records to identify pupils frequently absent because of sugarcane activities and work with their parents to alleviate the situation The study recommended that future research be done on; the effect of parental attitude towards education on academic performance in sugarcane-growing communities as well as the impact of commercial agriculture on retention and completion rates among primary school learners in Eastern Uganda
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Undergraduate research report
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Citation
Bogere, H. (2026). The impact of sugarcane growing on learners' academic performance in primary schools of Iwemba sub-county, Bugiri district, Uganda. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.