Exploring the factors that affect studnets’ performance- a case study of Mankranso circuit

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore factors that are responsible for the low academic achievement of pupils in Mankranso Circuit Junior High Schools in the Ashanti region of Ghana. To identify these factors, the Mankranso Islamic Junior High and L/A Junior High Schools were selected as high and low performance schools respectively. A quantitative research approach involving systematic random sampling technique, semi structured interviews and questionnaire were adopted for the study, with a sample size of 340 students, 310 Parents and 40 Teachers deduced from Kish (1965) formula. The study explored that, teachers, school environmental, parents and the pupils were primarily responsible for the low academic achievement of the pupils. The school environmental factors identified include limited number of teachers with high academic qualification, inadequate teaching and learning materials, and misuse of contact hours with pupils. The teacher factors that were found to contribute to the low academic performance were incidences of lateness to school and absenteeism, inability to complete the syllabi and inadequate homework assigned to pupils. The pupil characteristics found significant were incidences of lateness to school and absenteeism, lack of assistance with studies at home and use of local language in the classroom. Home conditions or parental support variables causing pupils to perform poorly academically were their inability to provide textbooks and supplementary readers, low level of interaction with children’s teachers, and low involvement in the Parent Teacher Association