Factors Contributing to Poor Academic Achievement among Underachieving Students in A High School in Klang Valley: A Case Study

Abstract

The topic of underachieving students in Malaysia is important because education plays a crucial role in creating knowledgeable and capable individuals who can contribute to their families and nation. Despite efforts by the Malaysian Ministry of Education to improve educational quality, particularly in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of Malaysian pupils who do badly in school remains a severe concern. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of students dropping out during the online learning period. This study is a qualitative case study that investigates the factors that contribute to poor academic achievement among underachieving students and explores strategies to address those factors. The study employed purposeful sampling and involved three students who were identified as underachievers, as well as two educators who taught these students. Semi-structured interviews with the participants were used to obtain data. According to the findings, factors that contribute to poor academic performance among underachieving students were lack of family or parental involvement, financial issues, students’ motivation, teachers’ role, students’ absenteeism, learning facilities and syllabus insufficient teaching methodologies. Teachers, school administrators, curriculum designers, and developers will find these insights useful as they plan new teaching and learning strategies for their classrooms. Future studies should include parents, principals, government officials, NGOs, and others involved in the education of underachieving students.