Factors influencing academic performance of pupils at Abirem RC J. H. S in Kwabre-East Municipal

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that are responsible for the academic performance of pupils in Abirem R/C Junior High School at Abirem in Kwabre- East Municipal. Based on this, a descriptive survey design was used to study 150 respondents comprising of 60 pupils, 30 teachers and 60 parents selected through systematic sampling technique. Separate questionnaires were designed for each category of respondents to collect data pertaining to factors influencing academic performance of pupils within the school. Statistical tools used to analyze the data collected included descriptive tools such as mean, median, frequencies and percentages, and the results were presented in tables. The study has been able to establish issues that are particular to Abirem R/C Junior High School. School factors, teachers, parents and the pupils were primarily responsible for the academic performance of Abirem R/C Junior High School pupils. The school factors identified include, inadequate teaching and learning materials, school location, bad odor from the environment, and class size. The teacher factors that were found to contribute to the academic performance were incidences of lateness and absenteeism to school, inability to complete the syllabi and inadequate homework assigned to pupils. Home conditions or parental support variables causing pupils to perform poorly academically were parent’s inability to provide textbooks and supplementary readers, low level of interaction with their ward’s teachers, and low involvement in the Parent Teacher Association. It was recommended that there is the need to improve parents’ attitudes towards their wards education, intensify supervision of teachers and institute incentive packages, sensitize and motivate the pupils, recognize individual differences in education and encourage guidance and counseling services for pupils