Poor academic performance is one of parents’ greatest concerns over their children. This has been shown in poor performance in WAEC result, NECO, JAMB results, etc. If this is not looked into, such children will have to face the effects, which include a gloomy future, youth that are unemployable, etc..
This is one of the reasons why parents employ home teachers for their children or even change their children’s teachers incessantly in the hope that things will change. There is an ongoing debate on whether the teachers or parents are responsible of students’ failure.
Of the truth, teachers are not also pleased when their students don’t perform well academically, so also the parents. A saying goes, “The success of a teacher depends on the success of his/her students” Therefore, parents, teachers, and students must spot the cause(s) of poor academic performance before they take action to solve the problem.
Top causes of poor academic performance
Poverty: There is a direct link between poverty and academic performance. According to research, children living below the poverty threshold are 1.3 times as likely as non-poor children to experience learning disabilities and developmental delays. The findings suggest that the effects of poverty on children’s cognitive development occur early. This shows that there is a relationship between poverty and academic performance.
Poor Health: A child suffering from ill health may be unable to do well academically. For example, children suffering from asthma are prone to poor academic performance if the ailment is poorly managed. It is the work of the teachers and parents to know how to manage their children’s health so as not to impact them positively.
Teachers’ approach to teaching or teaching methodology: The approach teachers use to deliver the subject content to students will determine whether the students will understand or not. When the content is poorly delivered, it will affect the student’s performance. It is common to see teachers teaching while students are not learning. This calls for re-evaluation by the teachers on his/her approach to teaching.
Poor approach to learning: A student who dislikes his/her teachers may find it difficult to understand the subject taught by such teachers. Moreover, not being attentive in class is another poor approach to learning. Failure to ask questions from your teachers when you are having difficulty understanding a particular topic is a poor approach to learning.
Poor interpersonal relations between teachers and students: Teachers must create an enabling environment where they are accessible to students. Teachers are to teach and inspire, motivate, show care, and cause their students to learn.
Broken home experience: This is a problem caused by parents to their children. The effect of a broken home on children makes them lose concentration at school and even lose interest in learning. Children from this home are not always motivated to learn.
Changing teachers incessantly: Some schools are fond of changing teachers incessantly, and this has its own contribution to students’ academic performance. Sometimes, it takes time for students to adapt to their new teachers, therefore slowing down the learning process.
When the environment isn’t conducive and stimulating enough for learning: Some things that aid learning are a good classroom, good teaching materials, class size, the school environment, etc. If all these are in a poor state, it will have an effect on the student’s performance.
Delayed preparation for examinations: This is referred to as a fire brigade approach: preparing when the exam is fast approaching. Preparation should be early enough for in-depth/intensive study.
Hyperactive child: Students in this category tend to lose concentration if not adequately handled by teachers and parents.
Regularity of the students to the class: Students who miss classes may have challenges performing optimally.
Recommended: How a student can read and understand effectively
Solutions to poor academic performance
- Government should be able to provide supports for students from a poor background like grants, scholarships, etc. This will assist students in this category to remain focus.
- Teachers should be student focus rather than being content minded.
- Parents should try to live in harmony at least for this sake of their child. This will help them to be psychologically stable.
- Qualified teachers should be employed by schools for quality teaching.
- Conducive environment for learning should be provided by schools.
- Students should be ready to learn, attend class regularly, and be inquisitive in class.
- Group reading among students should be encouraged.
Read: Impact of social media on students’ performance in school
