Factors Contributing to Students’ Unsatisfactory Academic Achievement in English at Secondary Level

Abstract

The poor academic performance in English is commonly observed among secondary school students in public sector which is a big challenge for the teachers, educational administrators, educationists, policymakers and Ministry of Education. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that contribute to students’ unsatisfactory academic performance in English at Secondary Level in Kohat Division (Pakistan). A sample of 180 male secondary school teachers was selected from sixty secondary schools through simple random sampling technique. The study was quantitative and descriptive in nature and survey design was used for gathering information. A self-developed structured questionnaire based on five point likert’s scale was used to seek the responses of the respondents regarding factors contributing to students’ unsatisfactory academic performance in English. Statistical analysis was done on the basis of descriptive statistics i.e., mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that a number of factors contribute to students’ unsatisfactory academic performance in the subject of English at secondary level. These factors were; ineffective curriculum, incompetency of English teachers, under-staffing, unfavorable classroom environment, lack of professional training, unawareness of modern teaching methods, and inadequate teaching learning materials. Based on findings, it was recommended that curriculum should be revised and designed according to the emerging needs of the students. Competent and qualified teachers should be recruited through transparent competitive examination purely on merit basis. English teachers should be trained professionally in modern teaching methodologies.

Keywords: Student-Related Factors; Classroom-Related Factors; School-Related Factors; Teacher-Related Factors; Family-Related Factors, Unsatisfactory Academic Achievement, Secondary Level