Perceived causes of low academic performance among senior high school students a case of Nkawie senior high school

Abstract

Quality education has always been the seal of most educational policies made in Ghana. In spite of quality education, the main aim of many educational reforms and policies, the desired quality has not yet been achieved. The purpose of this study was to assess the causes of low academic performance among Senior High School students. Descriptive research design was employed for this study. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. A total of one hundred and sixty (160) participants made of 100 students, 40 teachers and 20 parents participated in the study. Questionnaire and interview were the data collection instrument used to solicit for data. The collected data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21. The results were presented using percentages and mean values in a Table. The study find out that, inadequate provision of teaching and learning materials to students, teacher absenteeism and inadequate assessment of students were some of the teacher related causes of students low academic performance. Student’s shyness to seek for clarification from teachers, insufficient time for students to learn their books and increased indiscipline among students were revealed to be student related factors that contributes to their low academic performance. The study concludes that improvement of students’ academic performance was a shared responsibility of all educational stakeholders. The study recommend that the head of school in collaboration of the district educational directorate should conduct regular and prompt in 0 service training for teachers. Students should be counselled to be bold enough to seek for further clarification from tutors. The district educational directorate should ensure that there is prompt and regular supply of teaching and learning materials to enhance teaching and learning.