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

Table 6

Comparative analysis of teachers’ 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
Students’ absenteeism is a cause of poor academic performance.		1	0	25	26	0	0	35	35	2.9683
	%	3.8	0	96.2	100.0	0	0	100.0	100.0
Lack of seriousness of the pupil in class is a cause of poor academic performance.		0	1	25	26	1	0	34	35	2.9524
	%	0	3.8	96.2	100.0	2.9	0	97.1	100.0
Lack of commitment of teachers to their work is a cause of poor academic performance.		1	2	23	26	1	2	32	35	2.8730
	%	3.8	7.7	88.5	100.0	2.9	5.7	91.4	100.0
Poor motivation of teachers is a cause of poor academic performance.		3	1	22	26	0	2	33	35	2.8571
	%	11.5	3.8	84.6	100.0	0	5.7	94.3	100.0
Lack of teaching and learning materials is a cause of poor academic performance.		2	4	20	26	0	5	30	35	2.7937
	%	7.7	15.4	76.9	100.0	0	14.3	85.7	100.0
Teacher absenteeism contributes to poor academic performance.		4	3	19	26	0	2	33	35	2.7937
	%	15.4	11.5	73.1	100.0	0	5.7	94.3	100.0
Lack of adequate preparation of teachers before coming to teach is a cause of poor academic performance.		4	3	19	26	1	1	33	35	2.7778
	%	15.4	11.5	73.1	100.0	2.9	2.9	94.3	100.0
Inadequate supervision of teachers is a cause of poor academic performance.		7	4	15	26	0	3	32	35	2.6667
	%	26.9	15.4	57.7	100.0	0	8.6	91.4	100.0
Overengagement in extracurricular activities neglecting academic work is a cause of poor academic performance.		5	4	17	26	2	6	27	35	2.6190
	%	19.2	15.4	65.4	100.0	5.7	17.1	77.1	100.0
Lack of competent teachers is a cause of poor academic performance.		10	4	12	26	0	1	34	35	2.6032
	%	38.5	15.4	46.2	100.0	0	2.9	97.1	100.0
A teacher rushing to complete topics is a cause of poor academic performance.		8	4	14	26	2	1	32	35	2.6032
	%	30.8	15.4	53.8	100.0	5.7	2.9	91.4	100.0
Large class size is a cause of poor academic performance.		5	3	18	26	3	10	22	35	2.5079
	%	19.2	11.5	69.2	100.0	8.6	28.6	62.9	100.0
Teachers having many periods to teach are a cause of poor academic performance of pupils.		6	5	15	26	3	10	22	35	2.4603
	%	23.1	19.2	57.7	100.0	8.6	28.6	62.9	100.0
Schools closing earlier than the appropriate closing time are a cause of poor academic performance.		12	2	12	26	4	9	22	35	2.3175
	%	46.2	7.7	46.2	100.0	11.4	25.7	62.9	100.0
Inadequate teachers are a cause of poor academic performance.		8	3	15	26	7	11	17	35	2.2698
	%	30.8	11.5	57.7	100.0	20.0	31.4	48.6	100.0
Regular transfers of teachers out of a school and replacing them cause poor academic performance.		11	7	8	26	17	14	4	35	1.7143
	%	42.3	26.9	30.8%	100	48.6	40.0	11.4	100.0
Regular changing of schools by pupils is a cause of poor academic performance.		12	6	8	26	24	6	5	35	1.6190
	%	46.2	23.1	30.8	100.0	68.6	17.1	14.3	100.0
Lack of extra classes in school is a cause of poor academic performance.		14	7	5	26	22	11	2	35	1.5238
	%	53.8	26.9	19.2	100.0	62.9	31.4	5.7	100.0

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