World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

CLASSROOM NOISE EXPOSURE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

*Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Dr. Md. Shafiur Rahman, Dr. Md. Asif Jamil Pritom, Dr. Foyzunnahar Munmun

ABSTRACT

Noise means the sound in the wrong place in the wrong time that causes feeling of annoyance and irritation, fatigue and damage to the auditory systems. A variety of things, including machinery, vehicles, electrical gadgets, and human activity, can produce noise. In the dynamic realm of education, the interplay between classroom environment and academic achievement has emerged as a focal point of scholarly inquiry, with particular attention given to the impact of classroom noise on the learning outcomes of secondary school children that demands more research in this field. However, research on the relationship between classroom noise exposure and academic performance in secondary school children is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between classroom noise exposure and academic performance in secondary school children. It was a cross sectional study conducted from 1 January 2023 to 30 November 2023. Secondary school children of class VIII to class X were included. In this study convenience sampling technique was used. The study was conducted in Mawna ML High School, Gazipur district, using semi-structured questionnaire and data were collected from the respondents by face-to-face interview. A calibrated smart phone app was used to take the noise values in (dB) and put them into checklist for calculation and measuring the noise of classroom. Assent from the participants were obtained, confidentiality of participants' data was ensured. In this research male and female students were almost equal and most of them were Muslims and some were Hindus. Most of them belongs to middle class family and a larger part of study population has no study room. Average weekly equivalent noise was measured in the classroom as 1st week 90.4 dB, 2nd week 90.3 dB, 3rd week 86.8 dB and 4th week 86.8 dB respectively. The mean of these weekly average Leqs was 88.6 dB that was higher than standard level of noise (50-60) dB in mixed areas according to Bangladesh Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006 and it concludes that the classroom of the selected school was noisy. Academic performance of the children was measured by score of academic performance scale in which most of the participants belongs to moderate academic performance (70.4%) that illustrates the effect of noise on school children. The benefits of this study might include providing valuable insights into the effects of classroom noise exposure on the academic performance of secondary school children, which could inform school administrators and parents to improve health and academic outcomes for school going children.

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