Challenges facing primary school pupils in learning English language as a foreign language in Asante Akim South Municipal

Abstract

This study aimed to find out the factors which contribute to the teaching and learning difficulties in English Language among the primary school pupils in Asante Akim South Municipal in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The sample for the study was 77 respondents comprising 3 headteachers, 60 pupils and 14 teachers selected from 3 schools in the Municipality. Purposive sampling procedure was used to select the sample size. Questionnaires, interview and observation were the major research instruments used for the study. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the quantitative data by the help of SPSS. The qualitative data were collected in the form of audio recordings and analysed using narrative analysis. The study found that lack of teaching and learning resources, lateness and absenteeism on the side of both teachers and pupils, overloaded syllabus, bad or uncomfortable learning environment among others were the factors affecting teaching and learning of English Language in the Municipal. The study concluded that, both teachers and pupils failed to do their best regarding the teaching and learning of English language in the Municipality and that might have resulted in the low performance. The study therefore, recommended that, the stakeholders of education should ensure that the necessary resources are provided to enhance the teaching and learning of English language, also there should be rules and regulations to monitor the lateness and absenteeism of both pupils and teachers.