An investigation of the factors affecting pupils’ perormance in PLE in Teso Sub-Region: The case of primary schools in Serere District

Abstract

The study set out to investigate the factors effecting performance in PLE in primary schools in Teso sub-region using the case of Serere District. Specifically, the study sought to examine the school environment factors, the teacher factors, the pupil characteristics and the parental support variables that affect pupils’ performance in PLE in primary schools in Serere District. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design using both qualitative and quantitative methods in which 320 Officers from the Education department, headteachers, teachers, members of SMCs and PTAs participated in providing data through structured questionnaires and face to face interviews. The study found out that among the several school environment factors, the most outstanding included lack of textbooks, lack of appropriate instructional materials in the schools. Of the several teacher-related factors, the following were the most outstanding: use of inappropriate teaching methods, failure to use proper instructional materials, lack of proper classroom control, improper teacher-pupil relationships. There were many factors relating to pupils’ characteristics and these included pupils’ improper behavior in school, late coming, absenteeism, dodging school, general pupils’ disobedience and laziness on the part of the pupils in doing their work. For parental support factors, the following were the most outstanding: the socio-economic status of the father and mother, the relationship of the father and mother with the child and the relationship between father and mother. The study concluded that the school environment factors that affect pupils’ performance at PLE in primary schools in Teso sub-region include; lack of textbooks, lack of appropriate instructional materials in the schools, failure to provide feeding to children and inadequate scholastic materials. The teacher-related factors that affect pupils’ performance at PLE in primary schools in Teso sun-region include; use of inappropriate teaching methods, failure to use proper instructional materials, lack of proper classroom control, improper teacher-pupil relationships, failure to create a conducive learning environment and failure to provide adequate learning exercises. The pupil characteristics that affect pupils’ performance at PLE in primary schools in Teso sun-region include; pupils’ improper behavior in school, late coming, absenteeism, dodging school, failure to take notes especially due to lack of exercise books, negligence in doing class assignments, general pupils’ disobedience and pupils’ laziness. The parental support factors that affect pupils’ performance at PLE in primary schools in Teso sun-region include; the socio-economic status of the father and mother, the relationship of the father and mother with the child and the relationship between father and mother. The study recommends among others that the district local governments should effectively budget and plan for primary school improvement to ensure a conducive learning school environment in all schools in the sub-region.