Using a Cause-and-Effect Chart in Analysing the Reasons behind the Higher Percentage of Failure at University

Abstract

This study aimed to know the reasons behind the high percentage of failure at Ibb University, and determine methods and techniques that might help the administration reduce this phenomenon. This was achieved by using a questionnaire, for collecting data, and a Cause-and-Effect Chart together with Pareto Chart for calculating the percentage significance. The sample of the study was composed of a group of students in some departments of the Faculty of Commerce at Ibb University in the academic year 2003 – 2004. The study was divided into two parts. Part I was composed of two sections, Cause-and-Effect Chart and  Pareto Chart, while Part II was composed of three sections: Section I showed the exams results and analysis, Section II listed the causes of the problem, while Section III analysed the significance of percentage for the causes of the problem. The study found that the student represented the most important reason behind the high percentage of failure followed by the lack of teaching aids. However, the most  secondary  important reasons were the absence of library, lack of education services, bad distribution of study courses, lack of connections between course items, extensive items of courses, bad economic conditions of some students, and bad student services and study halls.