Faculty of Education
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Browsing Faculty of Education by Subject "Academic achievement."
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- ItemDidactic causes of scholastic failure in primary schools(1996) Reddy, Ramamma; Jacobs, MonicaThe aims of this study were: • to investigate the didactic causes of scholastic failure in primary schools; and • to suggest, in the light of findings obtained, didactically justifiable guidelines for reducing the failure rate in primary schools. To address these concerns the investigation was underpinned by the following hypothesis: the principal didactic causes of scholastic failure in primary schools centre upon the ineffective application of socialisation, individuaiisation, perception, motivation and evaluation as didactic principles. In order to combat the problem of fragmentation caused by an overemphasis on empirical research while theoretically engaging concepts as revealed in recent research findings are often disregarded, this investigation concentrated entirely on literary research. A comprehensive study was conducted of recent primary and secondary sources related to didactic causes of scholastic failure. Data collated from different types of research which were conducted, tried out and tested by other researchers were blended, integrated and analyzed according to didactic criteria articulated in the hypothesis. The findings revealed that scholastic failure in primary schools revolved around five major causes. First: inadequate situation analysis prevents effective psychological and educational diagnosis of (earning disabilities; temporary poor scholastic achievement of average learners are sometimes erroneously diagnosed by the teachers or orthodidacticians as being caused by permanent learning disabilities. Second: inattention to language skills causes many primary school children to be at a learning disadvantage; definite connections have been shown to exist between scholasticfaiiureand speech deficiencies, defective hand writing, spelling disabilities as well as reading and writing limitations. Third: inefficient teaching styles result in inadequacies in the integral, interactive parts which the child and his or her teacher play in the education situation. Fourth: weak classroom management generates disruptive behaviour, distraction, hyper-activity resulting in corporal punishment which in turn lead to scholastic failure. Lastly: lack of teacher self-evaluation creates a situation in which classroom actions are often not guided by accountable personal teaching theories and didactic principles. In the light of the above findings, the recommendations flowing from the research include, inter alia: that bridging module readiness classes be established for children turning five years of age and that professionally qualified educators be pfaced in charge of these children; • that more emphasis should be placed on peer group teaching in primary schools; • that teachers and parents work closer together to help, guide and shape the child's attitude towards school and that self-improvement among teachers should be promoted through in-service education.
- ItemFactors which contribute to orphaned learners' academic achievements(2006) Makhonza, Lindokuhle Octavia; Nzima, D.R.The research investigated the factors which contributed to orphaned learners resilience. Resilience was measured as good academic achievement of orphaned learners. This stud} further investigated the relationship between an area type and custodian type respectively and the resilience of orphaned learners. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 183-orphaned learners, in the intermediate phase of Primary school. 12 schools in Vryheid District participated in the study. The findings of the study suggested among the three factors: familial, societal and school factors, family factors were the most significant factors in relation to resilience. No significant relationship was found between the custodian type and academic achievement of orphaned learners. The significant relationship found in this study indicated that the type of an area appeared to influence the resilience of orphaned learners. The study further revealed that a large number of orphaned learners stayed and were cared for by their grandparents.
- ItemHome environment and pupils' academic achievement(1997) Mdanda, Mandlakayise Gilford; Sibaya, P.T.This study examined the impact of home-environment on pupils' academic achievement. The first aim was to find out the association, if any, between parental structure and pupils' academic achievement. The second aim was to find out the relationship, if any, between parent-occupational status and pupils' academic achievement. The third aim was to find out the relationship, if any, between parental-involvement and pupils' academic achievement. The fourth aim was to discover the association, if any, between parental-managed learning programmes and pupils' academic achievement. The findings reveal that there is consistent relationship between parental-structure and pupils' academic achievement. Two-parent families are the most influential variable on pupils' academic achievement. There is a relationship between parent-occupational status and pupils' academic achievement. The type of job the parent is doing has an impact on child's academic performance. The study showed that pupils bom of professional parents, obtain highest scores on academic performance. There is a relationship between parentai-invoivement and pupils' academic achievement. Children, whose parents show high level of involvement, perform better in their academic tasks than those children whose parents are not involved in school matters. There is a relationship between parental-managed learning programmes and pupils' academic achievement. Parental two-way communication with the school, enhances pupils' academic performance.
- ItemAn investigation into the educational performance of black high school students who lodge at private homes in the Nongoma circuit(1995) Khumalo, Blasius Dumisani.; Nxumalo, O.E.H.M.; Ngcongo, R.P.This study has investigated the relationship between lodging at private homes by some students, and their educational performance. The researcher is of the opinion that the social environment of lodger homes creates conditions that do not help the educational efforts of the students. The historical background in this study has identified social, economic, political as well as school factors as contributing to the history of lodging. The literature review has shown that these factors can positively or negatively affect the educational efforts of the students. The responses to the questionnaire revealed that students at lodger homes are left to themselves. Lodger students do not enjoy parental support, care motivation and encouragement which would enhance their educational efforts. In the light of the findings, the study recommends that the problems surrounding lodger students be tackled.
- ItemMetacognitive strategies and academic perfomance among children with learning problems(1997) Van Rooyen, Willem Johannes; Sibaya, P.T.The present study examines the relationship between metacognitive strategy instruction and academic performance among children with learning problems. The metacognitive strategy instruction was based on a metalearning model. Thirty nine pupils with learning problems from grades 4 and 5 participated in the study. Academic performance data on curriculum based history tests and data from the self-report Metacognitive Learning Process Questionnaire (MLPQ) were collected. Baseline pretest data from History Test 1 indicated that pupils attained average percentage scores. Subsequent to training in the use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies pupils produced significantly higher performance scores on History Test 2. No statistically significant differences were found between the pre- and post application of the MLPQ. Increases in the cognitive and metacognitive strategies and test writing abilities sub-tests of the MLPQ were indicated. The results clearly indicated that training in metacognitive strategies coincided with an increase in academic performance. The broader implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
- ItemThe role of parents in the academic achievement of pupils in senior secondary classes in the Nseleni and Ongoye Magisterial Districts(1991) Mzoneli, Walter Nkosikhona Herbert; Nxumalo, O.E.H.M.The ever depreciating quality and quantity of matric results in black schools has called for the urgent attention for all educationists, decision-makers and parents, as well as pupils with the aim of joining hands to save and improve this appalling state of affairs. There has been much speculation ranging from the malfunctioning of the education system for the black community to the racially segregated education system. This thesis presents the findings of a study which describes the role played by parents in the academic performance of pupils in Senior Secondary classes in the Nseleni and Ongoye Magisterial districts. The Study was conducted among 150 Standard 9 and 10 pupils, 12 subject teachers, six principals of schools and 50 parents. The questionnaire and interview tools of research were used in the collection of data. The data collected by means of both the questionnaire and research tools, were analysed quantitatively. The analysis of results led to the emergence of numerous closely related factors which formed the basis of poor academic performance of pupils in Senior Secondary classes, especially standard 10. The findings indicated work time-tables, viz. shift work undertaken by parents, lack of parental support due to illiteracy, conditions of employment, lack of space and furniture conducive to study - due to unfavorable socio-economic factors prevailing within the family, absence of a well-structured personal study time-table for pupils, lack of regular contact between the school and parents, low occupational status of the parents, discrepancies in the staffing procedures and a high teacher-pupil ratio in schools are factors responsible, to a large extent, for the poor academic performance of pupils. In the light of these findings, it is advisable that these factors should not be regarded as separate, units, but as complementary to one another, forming a complete whole.
- ItemA socio-pedagogic description of factors that influence scholastic achievement of secondary school pupils in KwaNdebele(1988) Masilela, Piet Jabulani; Nxumalo, O.E.H.M.The investigator had noted that performance of pupils, especially in standard 10, had not expectations despite the application of measures supervision, inspection, guidance, in-service circulars and distance training of teachers. Secondary risen to such as training, It became clear to the researcher that factors within society in relation to achievement of secondary school pupils should be researched so as to form a basis on which measures at guidance, pupil assistance, instruction, teaching and supervision can be carried out.