Effect of Medium of Education during School on Performance of Students in Medical College

Abstract

Background: All the medical colleges face students with poor performance. Studies have shown that there was no significant relationship between the learning approaches and academic performance. This study was conducted to know the role of Urdu and English language as medium of education during Primary and Secondary school in Pakistan and its impact on the results of university MBBS professional examinations.

Material and Methods: This study was designed and conducted during September to December 2005 in Gomal Medical College, D.I.Khan. Students of MBBS classes, from sessions 2001 to 2004, were provided with a proforma. The first professional Part-1 examination was expressed as M-1 and other university examinations as M-2, M-3 and M-4 respectively. The medium of learning either Urdu or English during Primary and Secondary level and attempts in their university examinations were asked. The statements regarding medium were randomly checked and the university level performance was verified from results available in the student affairs section of this college. The data was tabulated and statistically analyzed by x2 test.

Results: All the 189 students studying in second to fifth (final) year of MBBS classes in Gomal Medical College were included in this study. Among these 47 were in Second year, 57 in Third year, 46 in Fourth year and 42 in Final year. In Second year, students passing in the first attempt in M-1 examination from Urdu medium were 9 out of 19. In Third year, passing M-I and M-2 in first attempt were 26 out of 44 from Urdu medium. In Fourth year, in first attempt of M-1, M-2, M-3 examinations were 39 out of 72 from Urdu medium. In Fifth year, students passed in M-1, M-2, M-3 and M-4 examinations in first attempt coming from Urdu medium schools were 44 out of 56. The rest of the students from each class were from English medium schools. The results of students from Urdu and English medium schools were compared with each other by x2 test for the number of students passing in first and second attempts, the p-value was found to be insignificant (p > 0.5).

Conclusion: There is no effect of language as a medium of education during Primary and Secondary school upon the results of university professional MBBS examinations.