Factors Contributing to Poor Academic Performance of Students in Kongo Senior High School in the Kongo District

Mr. Ndoye, Joshua-Luther Ndoye
Lecturer
  +233244974097
  jlnupoalkpajor@uew.edu.gh
Profile
Publications

Authors
Matthew Kojo Namale, JOSHUA-LUTHER NDOYE UPOALKPAJOR & Cornelia Aganazure Ayambire
Publication Year
2021
Article Title
Factors Contributing to Poor Academic Performance of Students in Kongo Senior High School in the Kongo District
Journal
Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies
Volume
17
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
16-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2021/v17i230417
ISSN
2581-6268
Website Url
https://journalajess.com/index.php/AJESS/articl...
Abstract

The study investigated the factors influencing low academic performance of Kongo Senior High School Students in the Kongo District in the Upper East District. The Objectives of the study were to: identify the teacher factors that contribute to the low academic performance of students in Kongo Senior High School, identify how students’ attitude contribute to low academic achievement and indicate how school physical facilities contribute to low academic performance of students. The study also indicated the difference in perception between teachers and students with regard to ways teachers contribute to low academic achievement of students, indicate the difference in perception between teachers and students with regard to how school physical facilities contribute to low academic performance of students and indicate the perception between teachers and students about how students’ attitude contribute to low academic performance. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. A self-designed questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of .73 was used to gather data from a sample of 154 respondents. Purposive sampling method was used to select the school. Simple random sampling method was used to select student participants while convenient sampling method was used to select teachers for the study. The study revealed that teachers did not give feedback regularly to students. It was also found that students were not active in lesson. The study showed that the school did not have enough classroom furniture to to aid teaching and learning. Therefore, it was suggested that teachers should regularly give feedback on students’ work for them to know how they are doing in their subjects. It was also recommended that stakeholders of education should provide enough furniture for the school.

Policy Contributions

The overall goal of Ministry of Education in Ghana is to provide relevant and quality education for all students to enable them acquire knowledge and skills for personal and national development. These become possible when in- service training and workshops are organized for teachers to update their knowledge in teaching profession so that issues such as feedback, recognizing individual differences in class, motivating students to learn and making used of teaching and learning materials in lessons could be addressed. Students’ academic work is enhanced if they are psychologically prepared for teaching and learning activities. Per the results of the study school counsellors can find effective ways of organizing counselling talks to address issues such as students’ inactivity in class, late submission of academic assignment, absenteeism and inattentiveness in class since they are students’ attitudes that contribute to low performance in core subjects in West Africa Senior High School Certificate Examination. There is no gain saying that the core subjects to a very large extent determines academic programmes students pursue in tertiary institutions so students should be assisted to change their attitudes for a better academic performance. Students and teachers are motivated externally when their schools have beautiful classrooms, adequate classroom furniture, well-resourced libraries and a well-equipped science laboratories. These physical facilities help teaching and learning to be effective as teachers and students have what it takes to make learning more interesting and academic goals achievable.

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