Determinants of poor performance of secondary school students in science subjects in Wete district, Zanzibar
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Date
2014
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Based on secondary school examination results, students' failure in science subjects is a
current common phenomenon throughout Tanzania. This study examined determinants
that have led to this situation in Wete District secondary schools, Pemba Island, Tanzania.
The study, intentionally investigated home based aspects, school based issues and
educational system attributes that contribute to poor performance on science subjects in
Wete District secondary schools. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design in
which samples of eighty seven (87) secondary school students were selected randomly
and thirty three (33) secondary school teachers purposely selected for the interview.
Education officers and some teachers as key informants were selected from district
education office. Questionnaires were used to collect relevant primary data for the study.
Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regressions were used to summarize the
information obtained from respondents in the studied schools. The study was statistically
significance with a p<0.005. Findings of this study showed that socio-demographic factor
such as sex of respondents (p=0.020), and age of respondents (p=0.011) have negative
influence on performance of students in science subjects. School based factors such as
attitudes of students developed towards science subjects (p=0.016) and internet access for
learning purposes (p=0.040) also have negative influence to science students. Domestic
chores showed strongly negative impacts towards learning of science subjects at school
(p= 0.008). This study recommends that all education stakeholders should encourage
supply of science teaching and learning materials, recruitment of qualified and competent
science teachers, provide teachers reasonable salary to make them comfortable in the
working station. Moreover, improve science teachers working environment and increases
the number of quality boarding schools, encourage early identification of students with
special talent in science practice and special focus on science education in early stage.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Poor performance-secondary school students, Poor performance-science subjects, Wete district, Zanzibar