Abstract:
The study assessed the spatial distribution of primary schools, the spatial accessibility of primary schools
to the students and the effects of spatial distribution on students’ academic Performance in Damboya
Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone, SNNPR of Ethiopia. The study involved three specific objectives; the 1st
objective was to evaluate the spatial distribution of primary schools in terms of population number in
Damboya Woreda. The 2nd objective was to measure the spatial accessibility of primary schools to
students in the study area and the 3rd objective was to analyze the effects of spatial distribution of primary
schools on students’ academic performance. Quantitative approach and descriptive survey design were
employed. The data used for this study were primary and secondary. Primary data were collected using a
hand-held GPS receiver. It is used to capture the coordinate points of the primary schools and other
relevant data during filed survey. Secondary data included in the study were administrative map of the
study area, Orthophoto of the woreda, Ethio-map, Ethio-Kebeles, population figures of each Kebeles,
students’ list and their result, name and location of primary schools of the study area. All Kebeles and all
primary schools are incorporated in the study. Data analysis was carried out by using different types of
statistical techniques such as Location Quotient (LQ), Lorenz Curve (LC), ratio of school to population,
percentage. Bar graph and tables were used to present the data .The findings of the study indicated that
the population and schools are not evenly distributed. This revealed that the existing of gaps in access to
primary schools in the study area. LQ value varies from4.9 to 0.3; LC indicated that about 37% of
primary schools are enjoyed by about 49.6% of population and the remaining 57% of the primary schools
are enjoined by 51.4% of the population. Ratio of schools/population varies from 1: 14827 to 1: 1009.
About 64.8% of students travel above 2kms to access the schools, while only 35.2% of students travel
below 2kms to access the school. Students those who travel above 2kms to access the school constitute
81.7% of dropouts of students from the school and 86% of the students scored below 50% are those who
travel above 2kms to access the school. The study concluded that the spatial distribution of the primary
schools was not considering population number in the study area. This leads to inaccessibility of schools
to students. Hence large numbers of students were forced to travel above 2kms to access the schools. This
resulted in dropout of students from the schools and minimization of their results. Finally the study
recommended that there was a need for intervention of planners and government in the provision of
primary schools in deficient Kebeles such as Bonga, Dato-Darabora,Hego, Qoxa-Kombola, Hamancho,
Geremba, Hanja-Laloamo, Yebu and Gonjii.