Factors affecting the academic performance of Students of Dzolo senior high school in the Volta Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the factors affecting the academic performance of students of Dzolo Senior High School in the Volta Region of Ghana. The lottery method of simple random technique was used to select students while snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to select old students and parents/guardians respectively. In all 178 respondents were selected for the research. They were made up of 44 students, 35 parents/guardians and 78 old students drawn from 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 year groups. Also, 20 teachers of the school and the headmistress formed part of the sample. Questionnaires were administered to students, teachers, the headmistress and old students. The analysis of data collected revealed that students’ inability to read and understand the English Language, their low entry aggregates, and indiscipline contributed greatly to their poor performance. Also, the inadequate school infrastructure coupled with students’ negative attitudes to learning added up to the leading causes of students’ poor performance.In order to attain the purpose of education in this school, the school’s administration should organise in-service training for teachers to equip them with skills to help weak students. It was believed that this training would sharpen the helping skills of the teachers to deliver their best. It is further recommended that the school administration should liaise with stakeholders like the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) rather than government to refurbish the school library to meet the needs of students.