Factors for Poor Performance in Religious Education in Secondary Schools: A Case of Secondary Schools in Tungi Ward, Morogoro Municipality

Abstract

This study was designed to establish factors for poor performance in religious education in Secondary Schools: A case of Secondary Schools in Tungi Ward, Morogoro Municipality. Specifically, the study aimed at establishing school- and student-related factors for poor performance in religious education in Secondary Schools in Tungi Ward, Morogoro Municipality. The targeted population for the study comprised heads of schools, teachers, and students from three secondary schools in the Tungi Ward, namely Tubuyu Secondary School, Charlotte Secondary School, and La Miriam Secondary School. The study used a simple random sampling technique in the selection of teachers and students and a purposive sampling technique in the selection of heads of schools, totalising 65 respondents. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. The analysis was done by using content analysis and descriptive statistics, data presentation was done by using explanatory sequential. The findings revealed that school-related factors that cause poor performance in RE in secondary schools include lack of qualified religious teachers, unavailability of teaching and learning resources, teachers’ pedagogical and assessment skills, teacher-student ratio, and language of instruction. Government-related factors that cause poor performance in RE in secondary schools include an over-loaded curriculum, lack of motivation toward teachers, lack of capacity-building programs, and under-qualified teachers; and student-related factors include attitudes towards learning, family background, and peer influence. The study recommends the following, school authorities devote special budgets to improving their libraries; Government needs to step up its support financially and materially to schools so as to help them improve facilities in order to ensure there is better academic performance; parents need to pay special attention to the academic performance of their children