Teachers’ Perspectives on Possible Causes of Poor Performance of Pupils at Ordinary Level Public Examinations in Zimbabwean Rural Secondary Schools

Abstract

This survey study investigated teachers’ perspectives on possible causes of poor performance of pupils at ordinary level public examinations in Zimbabwean rural secondary schools with particular reference to Nkayi District. The population constituted of the 650 secondary school teachers in the district. A total of 100 respondents’ selected using random sampling was used for the study. These were made up of 55 females and 45 male teachers. The research instrument used was the questionnaire which had both close-ended and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to interpret data. The study revealed that teachers attributed pupils’ high failure rate to lack of materials and equipment for teaching, inadequate supervision, teacher incompetency among others. The study recommends that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should embark on a massive infrastructural development to provide adequate classrooms and specialist rooms for rural secondary schools. Teachers should be adequately motivated so as to boost their moral and parents should be encouraged to support the learning of their children. Key words: Pupils, Ordinary Level, rural secondary schools, teachers, public examinations, poor performance