According to a study published in science journal ‘Xjenza’, large class sizes are contributing to lower end-of-course scores obtained by MCAST students. 

Based on a dataset of 874 full-time students between 2018-20 who followed a course in the Institute of Business, Management and Commerce, an empirical study found a ‘significant negative relationship’ between large class sizes and average scores by the end of the course. 

The study states that this signals how students are able to perform better were they assigned in smaller classes as opposed to more populated ones. 

The study results show that for every additional student added to a class, the average score of each student decreases by 0.27 marks. Adding ten students to a class would therefore theoretically decrease the average by 2.7 marks. 

The end of course score was obtained by taking the average score of all the units undertaken by the students through the course. Considering other variables, such as attendance, gender and nationality, the study found that female students obtained higher marks than male students. 

However, the difference was not considered statistically significant, as was the nationality factor. A statistically significant positive relationship was found however between the end scores and student age, level of studies, attendance, familial background and distance from the college. 

It was found that the farther away a student lived from the MCAST campus, the lower the final score, with the study attributing it to potentially more effort being exerted prior to arriving at the college. The study was authored by lecturer Ayrton Zarb and actually includes a number of recommendations to address the issues. 

Żarb recommends lower class sizes, ideally less than 17 students. This would mean the education ministry having to recruit more teachers and expanding schooling facilities within MCAST to accommodate more classrooms he said. 

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Photo Source: MCAST