Factors causing anxiety among learners: a case of selected learners at Sedase secondary school in Sinda district, Zambia.
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Date
2022-06-29
Authors
Ng’andu, Cecilia
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Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Worldwide, anxiety is one of the many psychological challenges learners face in their course of learning (UCLA, 2018). However, lack of knowledge on the causes, and poor management of learners’ anxiety can exacerbate the problem and may lead to dropout in some cases. Despite the Zambian government’s effort in removing barriers that may make a learner’s stay in school unease and uncomfortable, there are still factors in schools that make a learner develop anxiety. This study was set to establish the factors which cause anxiety among learners at Sedase Secondary School in Sinda District, and to find out how anxiety is managed. The study was guided by three specific objectives which were carried out through a qualitative descriptive design. Data were collected using semi- structured interview guides using five teachers and fifteen learners. The study used non probability purposive sampling technique. Results of a study showed that the factors that caused anxiety among learners were: social, academic, environmental and economic in nature. This study revealed that despite having guidance and counseling services in school, most learners opted to seek help from peers, introspection and others from God through prayer. This was so because; most learners had no trust in teachers in general, the room for guidance and counseling was poorly situated; some guidance and counseling teachers had assumed the role of the administrative wing of the school and where closer to the administrators than to pupils, and that some learners lacked knowledge of the services provided by the guidance department. For proper management of anxiety, respondents proposed a creation of a forum where peers would counsel each other and only involve teachers when they fail on their own. A holistic approach is needed to tackle the challenges of anxiety which includes awareness of the cases of anxiety, change in attitude of both learners and teachers, awareness of the available support services and improvement of the school environment.
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Affective education. , Emotions and cognition. , Emotions in children. , Learning--Psychological aspects.