Factors affecting poor academic performance of pupils in junior secondary leaving examinations in selected day secondary schools in Mwense District, Luapula Province

Abstract

Many studies are carried out to investigate factors affecting pupils' academic performance. The focus of this research is that pupils' performance in junior secondary leaving examinations in selected day secondary schools in Mwense District leaves much to be desired. The Ministry of General Education has always wanted to get to the bottom of the matter and establish ways in which academic performance can be enhanced. However, academic performance of pupils in junior secondary leaving examinations in selected day secondary schools in Mwense District has gone down in the past two years (2014 - 2015). This study aimed at establishing factors that affect poor academic performance of pupils in junior secondary leaving examinations in selected day secondary schools in Mwense District, Luapula Province. Descriptive survey design was implored and a sample of 3 head teachers, 9 heads of departments, 30 grade 9 pupils, 30 subject teachers and 1 District Education Board Secretary participated in the study. Microsoft Excel, thematic and quick impressive analysis were used to analyse the data obtained. The findings of the study show the following as factors affecting poor academic performance of pupils in junior secondary leaving examinations in selected day secondary schools in Mwense District: teacher/pupil absenteeism, lack of teacher/pupil motivation in schools, inadequate internal and external teacher monitoring in schools, abnormal teacher work load, non-parental involvement in the learning process of their children, late reporting for lessons by both teachers and pupils, schools and communities working in isolation, inadequate syllabi coverage, inadequate qualified human resource, insufficient teaching and learning materials in selected day secondary schools. The following recommendations were made: school head teachers to abide by the Ministry of General Education's directive for schools to be using 20% of all user fees collected from pupils to procure teaching and learning materials with emphasis on text books, the District Education Board Secretary to mobilise the Education Standards officers and ensure they intensify regular teacher monitoring, heads of departments and school head teachers to follow suit, parents and teachers to work collaboratively in matters relating to improving pupils' educational standards, government to deploy enough qualified teachers to these day secondary schools, parents to be educated on the importance of education to their children and urge them to be providing basic learning materials to them, MOGE to equip head teachers with managerial skills. The study is likely to give a picture to policy makers, education providers, researchers and all other key players to focus on the identified weaknesses and chart a way forward.