An Assessment Of The Determinants Of Academic Performance Of Basic Schools In Wa West District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the determinants of academic performance of pupils in the Wa West District. Both quantitative and qualitative research designs were used. The study participants comprised 160 pupils, eight headteachers and eight Parent Teacher Association chairmen. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. The results show that a number of statistically significant relationships existed between school factors, teacher factors, pupil characteristics and home-based factors and academic performance of the pupils. These significant relationships accounted for the low academic performance of pupils in the Wa West District. The school factors identified were inadequate teaching and learning materials, inadequate textbooks, inadequate trained teachers and misuse of school contact hours. The teacher factors that were found to contribute to the low academic performance were incidence of lateness to school, incidence of absenteeism, use of the local language in teaching and inability to complete the syllabi. The pupil characteristics found significant were incidence of lateness to school and absenteeism, truancy and little help with studies at home. Home-based factors causing pupils to perform poorly academically were less interest of parents in their children’s schooling and less involvement in the Parent Teacher Association. The findings offer very relevant information for better understanding of the variables affecting pupil academic performance in the Wa West District for decision making with an aim towards improving academic performance during this educational stage. It was recommended among others that there is the need to sensitise pupils and parents to change their attitudes, intensify supervision in the schools and institute incentive packages for teachers, sponsorship and bonding of teacher trainees and provide adequate teaching and learning materials in the schools.