Abstract

We present the findings of a study carried out to determine the effect of streaming on students’ preferences and their academic results in pharmaceutical technology.  In the study we analyzed achievement scores on examination results in the two semesters of the academic year 2005/2006 of a sample of 85 students in the first year of a Higher Diploma in Pharmaceutical Technology in the Department of Applied Science of the Hong Kong Institution of Vocational Education. Raw data were analyzed statistically and the hypotheses tested. Generally, the results indicated that streaming based on academic results and students’ preference impaired overall students’ achievements, after the streaming exercise, for the students who were streamed to the less popular division.

Key words: Streaming, academic achievement, pharmaceutical technology, negative effects, students’ preference