Secondary School Learners Research Articles

‘Most of the time, I am the three-tiered support system’ – subject teachers’ views on tiered support and part-time special education in lower secondary schools

ABSTRACT This study examines subject teachers’ views on support for learning in mainstream lower secondary schools in Finland. Because Finnish legislation on support for learning changed in 2010, we wanted to explore subject teachers’ views on how support is being delivered in practice. Our data consist of 115 subject teachers’ answers to an electronic questionnaire and were examined using content analysis, complemented with frequencies. The results indicate a need for better resources and for structures that support teacher collaboration in lower secondary schools. Open communication and clearer definitions of subject teachers’ and special education teachers’ (SETs’) roles are also required. According to subject teachers, the most important aspect of SET work is part-time special education, meaning that SETs provide individual support for students. The support system needs to be defined in greater detail to work effectively. However, subject teachers’ attitudes seem inclusive.

Analysis of Mathematics Performance Trends in Certificate of Secondary Education Examination, Tanzania, from 2015–2022: A projection for eight years

Mathematics is essential to life as everyone uses mathematical concepts daily. Many countries have advanced in science and technology by investing in mathematics. This study aimed to determine the trend of students who sat for the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) in mathematics from 2015 to 2022; analyse performance trends in mathematics during this period, examine mathematics failure rate trends, and project pass rates in mathematics for the next eight years, from 2023 to 2030. This study employed a quantitative research approach and an ex-post facto research design. Participants were 4,459,009 students who sat for CSEE from 2015–2022. Analysis from the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.0 revealed a consistent rise in student enrollment, with 136,481 more students by 2022. The pass rate was low, as the maximum was 20.12%, while failure rates consistently exceeded 78%. The findings indicated further that the pass rates would remain low from 2023 to 2030. The study recommends reviewing secondary school mathematics curriculum, increasing teaching and learning materials, providing regular in-service training in innovative pedagogical practices and assessment, and hiring more mathematics teachers in secondary schools.

Secondary school learners’ academic achievement in mathematics through a practical instruction teaching approach in the Kigezi and Ankole regions of Uganda

Addressing the challenge of subpar mathematics achievement levels in secondary education has gained global attention. Due to teachers’ inability to teach mathematics without real objects to explain it in real life, learners take the subject as very abstract, hence the poor academic achievement in national examinations. This qualitative case study investigates the impact of practical instruction on the mathematics achievement of secondary school students in Uganda. The research involved interviews with sixteen teachers from selected secondary schools in the Kigezi and Ankole regions to gain insights into their perspectives on the utilization and advantages of practical instruction in mathematics. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Regarding assessment strategies, the study found that there is a need to incorporate alternative assessment methods that can effectively assess the range of learners’ mathematics abilities. The study’s findings highlight that teachers view practical instruction as a valuable approach that enhances students' mathematics achievement by involving them in hands-on experience with real objects and learner-centered activities. Based on these results, the study recommends the widespread adoption of practical instruction as a means to elevate the quality of mathematics education in Uganda, ultimately addressing the prevalent challenges in mathematics achievement at the secondary school level.

A Collaborative Approach to Promote Sustainable Learning for Vulnerable Learners in Zimbabwean Rural Secondary Schools

Purpose. Many children who attend rural schools are faced with challenges which make them vulnerable. Vulnerability does not only affect those learners, but it also disrupts the teaching and learning process; that is teachers and other learners and the well-being of people in the community. Arguably, the responsibility of supporting learners who are vulnerable so that they can attain an education which is sustainable rests in the hands of the entire community. The purpose of this study was to explore how a collaborative approach utilising community capitals can promote sustainable learning for vulnerable learners in Zimbabwean rural secondary schools. The study used the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) as the analytical framework for the study. Methodology. The study employed a qualitative methodology using Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Critical Emancipatory Research (CER) paradigms. Data were generated through discussion meetings and photovoice with learners, teachers, and parents from two rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe. Fairclough’s (1992) critical discourse analysis principles and a photovoice methodology were used for data analysis. Results. Results show that there is a need to develop a good learning environment, community engagement, and untap opportunities in local capitals to support the vulnerable learners, enhancing sustainable learning. The study also stresses the need for a positive relationship and engagement with communities, alongside leveraging all the types of capital in the community, including human capital, cultural capital, built capital, and social capital to mitigate some of the risks that learners may face. Conclusions. From the study, it is evident that a stakeholder-supported approach and leveraging on community capital is an appropriate way of addressing learner vulnerability and fostering learning in the rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe. The involvement of the community can also be used as a force to encourage the development of an environment conducive to learning that will foster the achievement of the education goals for vulnerable learners.

Virtual Physics’ Programs & Students’ Improvements

The research article examines the effect of virtual Physics’ programs on students' achievement in the subject within public secondary schools in the Kakamega South sub-county. Quasi-experimental research design was adopted, quantitative data from a sample of form two students was collected using physics achievement test. The data was analyzed using Difference in Difference model. Findings showed a statistically significant difference in achievement between students taught using Physics virtual programs and those taught using face to face. The results of the analysis also showed that students’ achievement in physics was increasing by 1.34 point over time and the increase was statistically significant The findings are in agreement with those of Smith (2013) in a study comparing in-person learning and blended learning in secondary schools within New Zealand who reported a significant difference between students' achievement in blended and face-to-face classes. The findings would provide widespread benefits that extend to individual student by enhancing their understanding hence improved learning achievement. Its overall argument is that the government through KICD rolls out full integration of virtual physics programs in secondary education curriculum, incorporating teacher professional development and blended teaching and learning.

Pedagogy and ICT in Crisis Situations or the Games and Issues of a Win-Win Relationship

"Let a micro-processor never become a micro-professor". This allegation by Francis Meynard (1989) certainly reflects the relationship of complementarity or conflict that may exist between teaching and digital technology. In fact, the present research is interested in the presumed or proven problematic between pedagogy and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). In a more subtle but demonstrative way, the aim is to study the tangible and/or alleged contributions of ICTs in the various teaching-learning methods of secondary school learners in priority education zones (PEZ), in a crisis situation. Three data collection tools allow us to carry out this work, namely non-participant observation, the semi- directed interview and finally the documentary exploitation. The results that emanate from this work reveal a triptych: firstly, convergent as well as divergent characteristics of the two notional approaches in these places, secondly, an incapacity of ICTs for a conjunctural pedagogy, and thirdly, a rigorous conditioning of ICTs for an improved and continuous pedagogy in a crisis situation in PEZs.

Barriers to teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms in mainstream secondary schools

Purpose The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore barriers to cultural and linguistic diversity teaching in mainstream secondary schools in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study was underpinned by the culturally responsive pedagogy theory as a framework. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the barriers to teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) classrooms. Findings The authors found that teachers experience a plethora of challenges in teaching CLD learners. The findings show that culturally responsive practices, collaboration with relevant stakeholders and seeking professional development opportunities may advance the productive engagement of CLD learners in secondary schools. Practical implications Pre-service and in-service teachers should be conscientious about CLD teaching and learning through professional development. Teachers should be trained and retrained to accommodate CLD learners. Originality/value This study highlights significant aspects that hinder the inclusion of CLD learners and encourages the Department of Higher Education (tertiary institutions) and the Department of Basic Education Curriculum Developers to reconsider aspects of CLD in curriculum planning.

Self-regulated learning in secondary school: Students’ self-feedback in a peer observation programme

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is crucial for fostering learner autonomy and lifelong learning skills. The article focuses on observation as a trigger of student self-feedback and self-reflection towards the development of SRL. A student peer observation programme, co-designed and piloted by teachers and researchers in two Portuguese public secondary schools is introduced, including its theoretical and methodological framework, observation scheme, and supporting observation guides. A qualitative study of self-reported effects by participating students was performed with the objectives of identifying strong aspects and possible improvements to the programme but also to gain a deeper understanding of how observation and self-feedback mediate between the performance and self-reflection phases of SRL. The results reveal an increased appreciation for feedback from various sources, and of the reflection it enables, with students emphasizing seeking help from teachers and peers. Implications for designing collaborative and student-centred learning environments with observational strategies to promote SRL are included.

One Hundred Percent Transition Policy in Kenya & Self-Esteem among Learners

This article progresses from a research that was done to investigate the effects of one hundred percent transition policy on the self-esteem of learners in public secondary schools, within Butula Sub County, Busia County, Kenya. Guided by resilience theory, the article employs a descriptive survey design. The target comprises of 3235 participants, including 3206 students, 28 school principals and 1 Sub County Director of Education. Stratified random sampling was employed to ensure that all parts of the population were represented in the sample, as a measure of increasing its efficiency. Simple random sampling is utilized to give all participants an equal opportunity to participate in the study where the selection process was entirely based on luck. Purposive sampling was used to gain a deep understanding of phenomena from Sub County Director of Education sample as representative of education office. Data collection tools included interviews schedule, questionnaires, and observation guides. A pilot study ensured validity and reliability of data collection instrument. Quantitative data were analysed, revealed that implementation of 100% transition policy did not statistically significantly influence self-esteem of the learners, β = -0.694, t = -0.1250, p > 0.05. Consequently, the research article recommends for professional counselling to help students navigate emotional hurdles effectively thus improving their self-esteem

Reading Proficiency Among Grade 7 Learners

Analyzing reading competency in children in Grade 7 provides insightful information on learning objectives, cognitive growth, and the efficacy of literacy training. This information has consequences for teaching practices, educational systems, and individual students. This study assessed the reading proficiency of 146 Grade 7 students using a standardized test. The data were statistically analyzed using the mean, Mann-Whitney U-test, and analysis of variance. Results showed that the overall reading proficiency of the students was at a frustration level. When grouped by three different variables, the students’ reading proficiency stayed at the frustration level across all categories. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in reading proficiency when comparing students based on their profile variables. In this context, this paper ascertained the reading proficiency of Grade 7 learners in a public secondary school in a medium-sized division in Central Philippines for the Academic Year 2022–2023. Data needed for this descriptive study was collected from 146 respondents using a standardized instrument from the Oral Verification Test with one reading passage and a 7-item question. The ensuing analysis showed that the reading proficiency of Grade 7 Learners was at the frustration level, a level that signals a need for intervention, support, and reflection on instructional practices. This result calls for a customized reading plan to bring relevance and answer to the needs of the learners who still have difficulty in their reading proficiency level. Keywords: Language education, reading proficiency, word recognition, reading comprehension, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Teachers’ Stress Level as a Correlate of Deviant Behaviours among Form Two Students in Machakos County, Kenya

Deviant behaviors among secondary school learners have continued to be a global issue and Machakos County is not exceptional. There are limited Studies showing the relationship between teacher level of stress and students’ deviant behaviors. This study was designed with the aim of exploring whether students’ tendency to engage in deviant behaviors is related to teacher levels of stress. The Cultural Deviance theory by Shaw and Mckay which views deviant behavior as a result of escape from freedom was used. The researcher used a correlational research design. The target population was 53 public secondary schools with 280 teachers. The study’s locale as well as the targeted schools were purposively selected. The sample from which data was gathered comprised of 160 teachers. The number of participants in each school was sampled proportionately. Stratified sampling technique helped in grouping the schools into distinct categories from which sample size was drawn from. The questionnaire which the researcher adapted from an existing instrument was filled to yield the data for the research. Piloting was done before the main data collection exercise to ascertain the validity of the adapted tool and enable testing the appropriateness of the data analysis technique. Quantitative data was analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (Version26). Pearson product moment correlation was applied to test the null hypothesis. The study found out that the higher the levels of teacher’s stress the higher the student’s deviant behavior and the lower the levels of the teacher stress the lower the student’s deviant behavior (152) =.49, p=00. The study concluded that teachers’ gender and working experiences were not significant predictors of students’ deviant behavior. The R Square value indicated that the predictor variable (teacher level of stress) accounted for about 53% of the total variance in students’ deviant behavior. The study recommended that there was need to effectively implement teacher performance, appraisal, and development fully and facilitate capacity building to ensure that the teachers’ efficacy skills were improved to reduce students’ deviant behavior in secondary schools.

The impact of the virtual classroom on the development of oral communicative competence in qualifying secondary school learners: A case study of the provincial direction of national education in Agadir

The period, mandated by health decision-makers in Morocco, was characterised by a certain improvisation in terms of the approaches used to enssure some form of pedagogical continuity. WhatsApp groups emerged as one of the methods adopted in an imposed manner by most teachers who were content with the digital tools available. In this context, our article aims to analyze the technical, didactic and pedagogical functioning of distance sessions programmed in synchronous mode, in order to determine whether virtual classes simulated real ones. It also seeks to study their effect on the development of oral communicative competence in Moroccan high school students. For this, we employed a mixed methodology: online questionnaire and semi-directive online interview process. The results indicated that no oral production was carried out, and hence there is a barrier to achieve an effective level of communicative competence during virtual sessions.

Assessing the Ability of Physics Teachers to Design Investigative Experiments for the Acquisition of Science Process Skills among Physics Learners in Secondary Schools in Tharaka Nithi County-Kenya

Assessing the Ability of Physics Teachers to Design Investigative Experiments for the Acquisition of Science Process Skills among Physics Learners in Secondary Schools in Tharaka Nithi County-Kenya

Child-headed Households: Techniques to lessen the detrimental Impacts of Poverty on Secondary School Students from Chimanimani District in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

The purpose of this study was to examine strategies to reduce the negative effects of poverty among learners from Child-headed Households. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was employed as the theoretical framework. The study used a qualitative research design. Thirty-two participants were purposefully selected. Interviews, focus groups and document analysis were employed as data collection tools. The study established that the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), supplementary feeding schemes, and income-generating projects were the main strategies which were employed to cushion secondary school learners from child-headed households. It is recommended that school administrators prioritise funding income-generating projects to help schools satisfy the psychological requirements of learners from child-headed households. This study adds to the body of knowledge about how adolescents from child-headed households experience academic success. In several sub-sectors of the Zimbabwean education sector, it expands understanding of the lived experiences of a sample of teenage students from low-income homes in Manicaland Province that has never before been investigated. The report makes a clear call to action for the Zimbabwean government to reconsider the BEAM support model in light of the insufficient funds now provided to learners and children ofchild-headed households. Keywords: Academic Success, Child-headed Households, Poverty, Psychological Development,Vulnerable groups

Causes and Remedies for Secondary School Learners’ Low English Speaking Proficiency in Musanze District, Rwanda

This study sought to explore causes and remedies for secondary school learners ’low speaking proficiency in English in Musanze District, Rwanda, using the quantitative approach. Out of the population of 459 teachers and students in three selected schools, the study sampled 27 teachers and 81 students, making a sample of 108 through purposive and random sampling. The questionnaire data was edited, coded, summarized and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences in terms of descriptive statistic. The study concluded that low proficiency in English speaking was due to shyness to practice speaking, lack of English clubs and lack of speaking motivation. Being in an endoglossic country, the students preferred to use their mother tongue (Kinyarwanda) most of their time and were fearful of criticism in attempt to speaking in English. English club and inter-class debate clubs provided positive effect in improving students’ fluency. Therefore, English clubs and inter-class debate clubs constitute a suitable initiative to improve students’ English speaking ability. Therefore, it is important for schools to establish and sustain English club and inter-class debate clubs which will improve the English fluency of students.

Promoting Sustainable Well-Being: Burnout and Engagement in South African Learners

This study aimed to analyze the latent profiles of burnout and engagement of learners and to investigate differences between these profiles regarding demographic and contextual variables and academic boredom. The findings have practical implications for educators and professionals in the fields of education and psychology. Grade 9 and 10 South African learners (N = 544) studying English and Mathematics as school subjects participated in the study. Five learner burnout and engagement profiles were identified: healthy engaged (10.66%), moderately balanced (27.57%), slightly disengaged (30.7%), moderately burned-out (20.4%), and burned-out (10.66%). Academic boredom in Mathematics and English was linked to burnout-engagement profiles. The healthy engaged and moderately balanced profiles exhibited significantly lower academic boredom levels in both subjects than the other profiles. Positive relationships with teachers and interest in the subject were crucial across all profiles to diminish academic boredom and enhance engagement, especially in English. Various demographic and contextual variables were associated with burnout-engagement profiles. Home study environments, nurturing positive teacher-learner relationships, and fostering intrinsic interest in subjects can enhance engagement and mitigate burnout in secondary school learners. Sustainable interventions could be created by teachers or researchers, implemented by schools, and taken up in important policies within South Africa, showcasing how the SGDs of improved health and well-being and delivering quality education could be achieved.

The The correlations between the average semester growth rates of syntactic and lexical complexity in L2 writing development at secondary school

The article is devoted to the development of language complexity in a relatively under-researched area of adolescent writing from the point of view of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST). It describes the second part of a panel study which aimed to examine the relationships among the average semester growth rates (ASGRs) of specific measures of syntactic and lexical complexity within and between these two subsystems in writing in English as a foreign language at the secondary school level. The study involved the analysis of The Written English Developmental Corpus of Polish Learners (WEDCPL). The corpus, which comprises over 1900 essays, was created on the basis of 21 repeated measurements conducted in a group of 100 secondary school learners during a period of three years. With respect to the specific measures of syntactic and lexical complexity, the study indicated that nominalization developed faster than subordination and coordination, and that lexical variation developed faster than lexical density and sophistication per semester. Moreover, the relationships between the ASGRs of both syntactic and lexical measures were more supportive within than between the subsystems. The main pedagogical implication for English language teachers refers to fostering more coordinated development of language complexity at secondary school in the EFL context.

Integration of Computer-Assisted Language Instruction in English Language Teaching of Oral Skills among Secondary School Learners

Integration of Computer-Assisted Language Instruction in English Language Teaching of Oral Skills among Secondary School Learners

A Longitudinal Exploration of Perception and Production of English Codas in CLIL Settings

Second language speech perception and production remain an enduring concern in second language acquisition, as research evidence seems to suggest that there is not a straightforward correspondence between these two speech domains and that their interrelationship seems to be of a complex nature. The present proposal intends to contribute to the inspection of such a relationship by observing the development of perception and production skills of English codas longitudinally in a group of secondary school learners in Spain involved in a content and language integrated learning (CLIL) program, which increases exposure and production opportunities. Results point to a slight overall improvement of both sound perception and production skills during a two-year period, the coda sounds exhibiting variable realizations. Many coda sounds were found to be identified and produced at near/ceiling levels while other codas remained at less successful identification and production levels even after two years of CLIL exposure. The correlation analyses performed indicated that the two dimensions tended to correlate when the development for each coda sound was inspected. No correlations were found when students’ individual overall performance in each dimension were examined, attesting individual differences.

越南汉语学习者低龄化趋势：成因与现状分析——以胡志明市商业华语培训中心为例

<p>In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend of younger learners taking up Chinese globally. Since the Vietnamese Ministry of Education included Chinese as an elective foreign language in primary schools in 2021, the number of primary and secondary school students learning Chinese has significantly increased. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the current state of Chinese learning in Vietnamese primary and secondary schools, identify potential challenges in the process of younger learners taking up Chinese, and provide valuable data support for the formulation of long-term Chinese education development plans, this study uses the Hoavan SHZ Chinese Training Center as a case study. It explores the enrollment situation and operational status of young learners over the past ten years. Through data analysis and interviews, the study examines changes in the age groups of young learners, the causes of the trend toward younger learners, the prospects for development, and the challenges faced. The results show that the number of young Chinese learners in Vietnam has been steadily increasing, with the age of learners continuously decreasing, including preschool children starting to learn Chinese. National education policies and the deepening of China-Vietnam cooperation are the main driving forces. To respond to this trend and meet the needs of parents and students, this paper advocates cultivating students' interest in learning, improving the quality of teachers, and refining teaching materials and methods.</p>