Abstract:
A research study was carried out on selection of Science stream in advanced level by the students
in the Batticaloa Educational Zone. Study was confined to Batticaloa Educational Zone and
simple random sampling technique was used to select three schools posses advanced level in this
educational zone, namely Bt/ Kallady Vivekananda Girls Maha Vidyalaya, Bt/ Vincent Girls High
School and Bt/ Shivananda Vidyalaya (National school). Thirty students from each school (Fifteen
students from science stream and another fifteen from non science stream) were randomly selected
to make the total sample size as ninety respondents. Primary objective of this research was to
study the selection of science stream in advanced level by the ordinary level passed students in
the schools of Batticaloa Educational zone. Specific objectives were to find out the reasons for
not selecting the Science stream in their advanced level by the students, to find out the factors
influencing the selection of study stream in the advanced level and to find out the relationship
between socio-economic characteristics of the students and the selection of study stream in their
advanced level. Primary data required for the study gathered from the selected students and staff.
Structured Questionnaires were used for this purpose. Secondary data required for this study
were gathered from relevant departments. Data collected were analysed by using SPSS 13.0
Results of the study indicated that, correlation between selection of study stream in the advanced
level and the family education index is significant at the 0.05 level. Number of female students
selecting science stream in their advanced level is in an increasing rate. There is no correlation
between family income and selection of stream in advanced level. Factors like, good IQ skills,
good English knowledge, and need more library references are highly influencing the selection of
non science stream in the advanced level. Further studiest which include other educational
