An investigation into factors Contributing to low performance of girls in education: A case study on selected secondary schools in Mufulira District

An investigation into factors Contributing to low performance of girls in education: A case study on selected secondary schools in Mufulira District

Master of Education (Religious Studies)

This research was carried out in five selected secondary schools in Mufulira District of Copper-belt Province namely: Kantanshi, Buyantanshi, Kalanga, Chankwa, and Ipusukilo in order to investigate factors contributing to the low performance of girls in secondary education. The objectives of the study were to determine home and community factors that affect the performance of the girl child in secondary education, to investigate school-based factors that contribute to the low performance of the girl child in secondary education, and to establish the girls ‘personal attitudes that contribute to their low performance in secondary education. The number of respondents who participated in the study was one hundred and twenty-five(125), which among them were five(5) head teachers, fifty (50) class teachers, fifty (50) pupils, and twenty(20) parents. Information was obtained from respondents by means of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews in order to arrive at the findings.

Questionnaires were distributed to headteachers, teachers, and pupils while interviews were conducted with parents. Part of the data was converted into table forms and graphs using a hand calculator while part of it was analyzed qualitatively by coding and grouping similar themes together. Results indicated that girls’ low performance in secondary education was affected by home and community environment due to poverty, parents’ level of education, early marriages, teen pregnancy, child labor, parents’ occupation, and other factors relating to gender roles.

The school environment was another factor due to absenteeism, lack of teaching and learning resources, girls’ attitude towards teachers and boys, teachers’ attitude towards girls, school curriculum, and the girls’ attitude toward learning such as lack of self-esteem and many more.

Katoyo Beauty Mutti

Submitted to: Justo Mwale University

2017

Supervisor: Dr. Edwin Silavwe

All Right Reserved. Justo Mwale University

Physical Medium

Englsih

An Investigation into Factors Contributing to Low Performance of Girls in Education