Dilemma of Basic School Pupils in Northern Ghana with respect to Their Learning Context

Table 5

comparative analysis of pupils’ perception about school based factors causing poor academic performance.

		Teachers								Mean of Importance
School based factors accounting for poor academic performance		Academically performing schools				Nonacademically performing schools
		D/SD	U	A/SA	T	D/SD	U	A/SA	T
A teacher rushing to complete topics is a cause of poor academic performance.		0	0	59	59	0	0	66	66	3.0000
	%	0	0	100.0	100	0	0	100.0	100
Lack of adequate preparation of teachers before coming to teach is a cause of poor academic performance.		0	0	59	59	0	0	66	66	3.0000
	%	0	0	100.0	100	0	0	100.0	100
Lack of commitment of teachers to their work is a cause of poor academic performance.		0	0	59	59	0	0	66	66	3.0000
	%	0	0	100.0	100	0	0	100.0	100
Teacher absenteeism contributes to poor academic performance.		1	1	57	59	0	0	66	66	2.9760
	%	1.7	1.7	96.6	100	0	0	100.0	100
Lack of competent teachers is a cause of poor academic performance.		1	0	58	59	0	1	65	66	2.9760
	%	1.7	0	98.3	100	0	1.5	98.5	100
Students’ absenteeism is a cause of poor academic performance.		2	0	57	59	0	0	66	66	2.9680
	%	3.4	0	96.6	100	0	0	100.0	100
Lack of teaching and learning materials is a cause of poor academic performance.		1	2	56	59	0	2	64	66	2.9520
	%	1.7	3.4	94.9	100	0	3.0	97.0	100
Lack of seriousness of the pupil in class is a cause of poor academic performance.		1	3	55	59	0	1	65	66	2.9520
	%	1.7	5.1	93.2	100	0	1.5	98.5	100
Poor motivation of teachers is a cause of poor academic performance.		1	2	56	59	2	0	64	66	2.9360
	%	1.7	3.4	94.9	100	3.0	0	97.0	100
Inadequate supervision of teachers is a cause of poor academic performance.		4	2	53	59	1	0	65	66	2.9040
	%	6.8	3.4	89.8	100	1.5	0	98.5	100
Overengagement in extracurricular activities neglecting academic work is a cause of poor academic performance.		6	3	50	59	2	0	64	66	2.8480
	%	10.2	5.1	84.7	100	3.0	0	97.0	100
Schools closing earlier than the appropriate closing time are a cause of poor academic performance.		1	4	54	59	2	11	53	66	2.8320
	%	1.7	6.8	91.5	100	3.0	16.7	80.3	100
Large class size is a cause of poor academic performance.		6	9	44	59	5	24	37	66	2.5600
	%	10.2	15.3	74.6	100	7.6	36.4	56.1	100
Teachers having many periods to teach are a cause of poor academic performance of pupils.		13	22	24	59	9	32	25	66	2.2160
	%	22.0	37.3	40.7	100	13.6	48.5	37.9	100
Inadequate teachers are a cause of poor academic performance.		24	14	21	59	3	42	21	66	2.1200
	%	40.7	23.7	35.6	100	4.5	63.6	31.8	100
Regular changing of schools by pupils is a cause of poor academic performance.		16	35	8	59	18	45	3	66	1.8160
	%	27.1	59.3	13.6	100	27.3	68.2	4.5	100
Regular transfers of teachers out of a school and replacing them cause poor academic performance.		34	17	8	59	40	18	8	66	1.5360
	%	57.6	28.8	13.6	100	60.6	27.3	12.1	100
Lack of extra classes in school is a cause of poor academic performance.		29	21	9	59	45	17	4	66	1.5120
	%	49.2	35.6	15.3	100	68.2	25.8	6.1	100

Source: field survey (2014).
T = total; = frequency; % = percent; D/SD =  disagree/strongly disagree; U =  uncertain; and A/SA =  agree/strongly agree.