Abstract:
Over the years, the language of instruction in Ghanaian schools has been English.
Thus, performance in English determines students‟ performance in other subjects
since English is the language of instruction in schools. Performance is completion of a
task with application of knowledge, skills and abilities. This study sought to
investigate factors influencing performance in English in four Senior High Schools in
the Ketu South District of the Volta Region. The study investigated the influence of
the quality of teaching, availability of teaching and learning materials and resources,
school climate and home background on the performance in English in the four Senior
High Schools in the Volta Region. The study employed a mixed research design with
a sample of 200 students and 38 teachers. Data were collected with the use of
questionnaire, interview and observation and analyzed thematically with the aid of the
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Findings suggest that the
availability of teaching and learning materials, teachers‟ attitude towards teaching and
learning, home background and school climate have a significant effect on
performance in English. Based on the results, it is argued that the presence of learning
materials was important in enhancing students‟ performance in English. As such,
teachers have to put measures in place to help students in order for them to use
English frequently. The school must also motivate both teachers and students, and
parents should be involved in their children‟s academic life. Finally, Government
should also provide the necessary teaching learning resources to enhance teaching and
learning as well improve performance.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Foreign
Languages Education and Communication, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Teaching English as a Second Language-TESL)
in the University of Education, Winneba
SEPTEMBER, 2019