Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Received 10 March, 2017; Accepted 18 March, 2017; Published 31 March 2017 The author(s)
2017. Published with open access at www.dynamicresearchjournals.org
Abstract: The study examined the factors that affect students academic achievement in Zimbabwes rural
Secondary Schools with Marimasimbe Secondary School (Gokwe South Midlands Province) taken as a case
study. The research adopted a case study methodology and the population sample was drawn from teachers,
Form 3 and Form 4 students and parents in the native area. The study used maximum variation sampling for
sample selection. Data was gathered through participant-observations, questionnaires, focus group interviews
and documents review. The data was analyzed through graphs and simple numbers. The results show that the
type of school leadership by the head, career guidance, teacher-pupil ratio, qualified and dedicated teachers as
well as discipline and order are the major internal factors affecting students academic achievement. The
identified external factors are family socioeconomic status, school-community relations, distance or proximity
to the school and witchcraft practices. Other findings are that boys perform better than girls at ordinary level.
The researcher recommends creation of conducive school environment by school heads, taking career guidance
more seriously, employment of adequate qualified teachers who are dedicated to their work, maintaining
discipline and order by both parents and teachers among others.
Keywords Academic Achievement, Academic Performance, Career Guidance, Education, External Factors,
Internal Factors, Rural Secondary Schools, Students, Teachers, Witchcraft, Zimbabwe.
JEL Codes: C83, E24, H52, I21, I24, I25, I26, I31. J24
I. INTRODUCTION
Human capital development in terms of education enhancement remains crucial in many developing
nations, and Zimbabwe is never an exception. Education allows knowledge, skills, beliefs, values, and habits of
a group of citizens to be transferred to others by way of story-telling, discussion, training, teaching or research
(Bonga, 2016). Most programs undertaken to improve educational efficiency in developing countries focus on
changing the educational system itself (Harbison and Hanushek, 1993). Education has long been viewed as an
important determinant of economic well-being, Hanushek and Ludger (2010). Zimbabwe, in particular, has
given priority in the last decades to building new schools and equipping urban schools with computers. Apart
from such developments, there is greater need to assess how students are showing up in terms of receiving the
required education standards (benchmarks to be confirmed successful). Education is divided into stages such as
preschool, primary school, secondary school and then college, university or apprenticeship. The academic pass
rates at Ordinary level, have remained low for many schools, especially rural areas, and hence calling for
investigations to be made to determine the impacting factors. The study will draw evidence from one of the rural
schools in Zimbabwe, Marimasimbe Secondary School.
Marimasimbe Secondary School is a community school located in Jiri Ward 22, Gokwe South (Midlands
Province). Jiri community has 3 secondary schools: Marimasimbe, Maboke (satellite) and Marirangwe
(satellite). Both satellite schools were established in 2014. Marimasimbe secondary school is fed by 7 primary
schools which are between 5km-15km away, 8 km being the average distance from school. The school enrolls
its pupils indiscriminately; completion of grade seven is the pre-requisite for secondary school entry. The
dominant religions in the community are Roman Catholicism, Zion and traditionalism. The communitys major
source of income is agriculture with crops such as cotton, groundnuts and round nuts. Generally, the level of
income is very low. Currently, the school has 21 teachers, of which 20 teachers have at least a tertiary
qualification.
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
A Case Study of Marimasimbe Secondary School in Jiri community
Academic achievement or performances are terms that are often used synonymously. Academic
achievement or performance is simply the outcome of education. It is the extent to which a student, teacher or
institution has achieved their educational goals. In recognition that one has completed a certain level of
education, certificates or formal documents are awarded (Bonga, 2016). The subject is of much importance and
concern to education policy mechanics and teachers as well as parents and students. Its generally a measure of
the attainment of educational goals and objectives. Academic achievement is commonly measured by
examinations or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how it is best tested or which
aspects are most important. For the purposes of this study it will be taken as the outcome from end of term tests
and examinations.
1.2 Aims
The study seeks to establish the factors unique to Marimasimbe Secondary School (Gokwe South
District) that affect students academic achievements. This is an interesting research domain since most schools
in the district are very similar in nature almost in every facet of a school system. This can help unearth salient
problems as well as enlighten educators and responsible authorities on how better learning environments can be
created and bring about higher student academic achievements. The study results may also be used to address
similar issues from other Zimbabwean rural schools.
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
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Student academic performance for Marimasimbe Secondary school, is very poor as shown by the statistics.
The statistics are well below the national levels statistics (which are also very low and unacceptable). The
school, over the period recorded a highest pass rate of 21.7% in 2014, and has a 0% in 2009.
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
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The current study will be of greater importance by investigating various possible factors driving poor
academic performance as shown by the statistics above. Many factors have been put forward to explain the poor
academic performance, but with no empirical support. For example, staffing challenges; however, it seems as if
though staffing problems have been resolved, there could be other important factors determining academic
achievements of students.
This research will help in planning amongst the schools various departments such as the academic board,
subject specific departments, the administration, sports department, the district at large and most importantly
help in improving students academic achievement at ordinary level in the country. Enhancing education in rural
schools will bring literacy levels to significant levels; financial literacy skills and self-development skills that
may be necessary for investment growth and poverty alleviation. Economic growth depends on effective
research and human capital development enhancement.
institution which may result in different learning conditions in various subjects, the percentage of students in a
school whose mother tongue is not the language of instruction, the diversity of student profiles in the same class,
the grouping together; in certain schools, of students with severe learning difficulties or with problems
associated with psychosocial integration in special education classes; the various practices pertaining to student
admission requirements. Some schools admit students indiscriminately, whereas others select them on the basis
of previous academic achievement or their results on aptitude tests.
Education and socioeconomic status: Socioeconomic status (SES) can be described as a combination
of education, income and occupation. It is simply defined as the social standing or class of an individual or
group. When viewed from a social class lens, privilege, power, and control are emphasized. Moreso, an
examination of SES as a continuous variable reveals inequities in access to and distribution of resources. SES is
relevant to all realms of Behavioural and social science, including research, practice, education and advocacy.
SES and educational issues: research indicates that children from low SES households and
communities develop academic skills more slowly compared to children from higher SES groups (Morgan etal,
2009). Initial academic skills are correlated with the home environment, where low literacy environments and
chronic stress negatively affect a childs pre-academic skills. The school systems in low SES communities are
often under-resourced, negatively affecting students academic progress (Aikens & Barbarin, 2008). Inadequate
education and increased dropout rates affect childrens academic achievement, perpetuating the low-SES status
of the community. Improving school systems and early intervention programs may help to reduce these risk
factors, and thus increased research on the correlation between SES and education is essential.
Muijs et al, (2009) found the following factors have to be effective in improving the quality of schools
in low-SES environments: a focus on improving teaching and learning, creation of an information rich
environment, building of a learning community, continuous professional development, involvement of parents
and increased funding and resources.
SES and academic achievement: research continues to link lower SES to lower academic
achievement and slower rates of academic progress as compared with higher SES communities. Children from
low-SES environments acquire language skills more slowly, exhibit delayed letter recognition and phonological
awareness, and are at risk for reading difficulties (Aikens & Barbarin, 2008). Coley, (2002) is of the view that
children with higher SES backgrounds are more likely to be proficient on tasks of addition, subtraction, ordinal
sequencing and mathematical word problems than children with lower SES backgrounds.
SES and the school environment: research indicates that school conditions contribute more to SES
differences in learning rates than family characteristics (Aikens & Barbarin, 2008). Muijs et al, (2009) opines
that schools in low-SES communities suffer from high levels of unemployment, migration of the best teachers
and low educational achievement. A teachers years of experience and quality of training is correlated with
childrens academic achievement (Gimbert et al, 2007). Yet, children in low income schools are less likely to
have well qualified teachers.
According to Makopa (2011), the government is responsible for paying teachers salaries and provision
of per capita grants to all schools for purchasing learning and teaching materials. However, the amount of
money per pupil is inadequate to cover all of the basic teaching and learning requirements, so schools have to
supplement this grant through levying the parents. From these levies schools provide the rest of the required
equipments, teaching and learning materials. Resources at each school vary according to each schools capacity
to provide the above mentioned requirements.
UNESCO (2008) points out that quality education depends on teaching and learning process, the
relevance of curriculum, as well as availability of materials and enabling learning environments. Carron & Chau
(1996) also supported this when they noted that students without basic resources in their schools and
environments perform poorly as a result of the learning difficulties they experience within their classrooms. As a
result, they obtain lower test scores than those learning in environments with required resources.
Parents are the most immediate relation of a child. Their financial status and education do have an
important influence on the personality of a child. Educated parents can better understand the educational needs
and their childrens aptitude. They can help their children in their early education which affects their academic
performance and knowledge. Belonging to strong financial background, parents can provide latest technologies
and facilities in a best possible way to enhance educational capability of their children.
Parental education and socio-economic status are of vital importance in affecting students academic
achievement. They are responsible in providing financial and mental confidence to students. Explicit difference
can be seen between those students who belong to different financial status and parental educational level.
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
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found that the factors affecting achievement could be grouped into different categories such as curriculum or
syllabus related resources or school based causes, teacher competency, socio-economic forces, examination
systems and students perceptions.
Bonga (2014), empirically examined the causes of poor academic performance of the students in the
native area, Ward 6, enrolled at Gokomere High School, Matova Secondary School, St Stanslous Secondary
School and Chidzikwe Secondary School using Ordinary Least Squares approach for a sample of 200 native
students. The determinants of academic performance have been found to include the walking distance to school,
sex of child, education status of parent/guardian, nutrition levels, late entrance and repetition at school and
language spoken at home. The study failed to prove that late entrance and repetition at school indicate poor
academic performance.
Mandina (2013), studied school related factors and circumstances that lead to students dropping out of
school using a case study of Zhomba Cluster Secondary Schools in Gokwe District, Zimbabwe. Results showed
that poverty and financial constraints were critical in the drop out phenomenon. It also established that school
dropout is primarily grounded in school problems such as school distance and inadequate teacher- student
relationships, inadequate resources and facilities as well as an irrelevant curriculum that fails to meet the needs
of individuals vocational and intellect.
It can be discerned from both the theoretical and empirical literature that factors that affect students
academic achievement include socio-economic status, enrolment criteria, school curriculum, students level of
operation, school leadership, students relations, teacher qualifications, teacher pupil ratio, pupil-textbook ratio
among others. However, theory is found lacking in terms of issues to do with discipline and order, witchcraft
and evil spirits availability of good role models in the school community and the influence of career guidance on
students academic achievement. The most important knowledge gap to be fulfilled by the study relate to the
influence of witchcraft and evil spirits on students academic achievement alongside other relevant factors.
The above mentioned factors are delved on in this research. Further analysis and consideration is taken on
students behaviors and cultural habits. It should be noted that most studies previously done within the schools
vicinity concentrate more on factors that influence students dropout rates in secondary schools.
Tools that were used to collect data included participatory observation, focus group interviews (see
appendix 5, 6 & 7), a closed questionnaire (see appendix 8) and official documents review (see appendix 2, 3 &
4). In this research, official documents, from the administration were used such as minute books, circulars,
charts, headmasters files relating to students academic performance and the Orphans and Vulnerable Children
(OVC) file.
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analysis schedules, charts, registers and circulars. Furthermore, validity and reliability were checked through
triangulation, peer de-briefing, having a totally transparent, systematic approach to data collection from sources;
maintaining an audit trail, documenting clearly the flow and processing of the data, member checking and
having some kind of focus group with a sample of other teachers to ensure that data for the research represented
what it was supposed to.
The above data was collected from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). Poverty and
vulnerability have a role to play in the students performance. Low income families have a challenge of
sponsoring their childrens education. It is hypothesized that students with no parents have challenges in
schools. The situation is almost the same with single-headed families. Marimasimbe Secondary School has
such students, and hence the academic performance is impacted by the variables.
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
A Case Study of Marimasimbe Secondary School in Jiri community
From statistics at Marimasimbe secondary O level results reveal that those teachers who go an extra mile
and possess the above mentioned attributes have their students obtaining better pass marks.
Discipline and order on academic achievement play a very pivotal role. At Marimasimbe secondary
school, this issue is sometimes quite disturbing. A vast array of measure is then implemented to deal with
misbehavior. Classroom management is a necessary condition for effective student learning. The overall school
climate established by the head heavily impact on learners motivation and attitude towards learning. Order is
needed in the classroom to maintain cohesion and smooth flow of activities. Teachers need to skillfully devise
their teaching methods and learner activities.
If learning activities are well-planned and prepared, it maintains learners attention, interest and
involvement, and if the activities are challenging and offer realistic opportunities for success, then the necessary
order will be established as part of these qualities.
Discipline and order can also be extended to parents too. Parents are compelled to work hand-in-hand with
school authorities to buttress teachers efforts and ultimately maintain discipline.
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Gokwe is ranked amongst the top districts in Zimbabwe in terms of witchcraft activities. Several stories in
the public media have testified these activities. Amongst the highly rated areas in Gokwe are Nemangwe,
Njelele, and Nembudziya and Jiri communities. Marimasimbe is a secondary school in the Jiri community. In
the past few years it was reported that witches in the aforementioned areas were showing off their evil acts
scoffing the authority and control of chiefs. According to villagers, they use butterflies, lightning bolts, owls,
snakes and others as tools of their trade.
They usually attack students and teachers within their communities. At Marimasimbe secondary school;
the head master is amongst the people, who escaped death by a hares breath, thanks to his religion. At this
school, a minimum of 5 pupils per year are heavily attacked and disturbed. Some of them end up being
psychiatric patients, others physically disabled, and drop out of school and some write their exams only in the
presence of prophets with the manpower assistance of teachers and students.
5.2 Conclusion
The study intended to identify the internal factors and external factors that affect students academic
achievement in rural secondary schools using Marimasimbe as a case study. The internal factors were found to
be school leadership, career guidance, discipline and order, teacher-pupil ratio as well as qualified and dedicated
teachers. The external factors that were found are students family socio-economic status (SES), school-
community relations, distance or proximity to school and witchcraft practices. The nature of the schooling
environment in the Jiri community was also determined. It was found that there are 7 primary schools that feed
into Marimasimbe secondary school which are at least 3km away and only 3 secondary schools, in the Jiri
community all without A level. It can be concluded that rural secondary schools particularly in the Jiri
community face a myriad of factors that either hinder or improve academic achievement. All these factors need
critical consideration if any positive results are to be obtained both now and in the future from students.
The findings are supported by various researches from literature and others like Hanes (2008) who carried
out a research on factors affecting students academic performance and the results from the study showed that
higher level of SES were the best indicator for the students quality of academic achievement. Ceballo etal
(2004) also postulated that parental education has effects on students academic performance.
On the other hand, the study revealed that boys perform better than girls contrary to the national analysis of
O level results by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) for 2014. Ceballo et al (2004)
contradicts with the researchs findings in their paper when they concluded that students gender strongly affects
their academic performance, with girls performing better. The reason why boys perform better may be because
they can improve their socio-economic status through part time jobs compared to girls. Results from this study
also concur with theoretical and empirical literature review.
However, it should be noted that witchcraft practices were found to be most important, although literature
is quite adamant about this aspect. This factor is quite prevalent and is disturbing not only to teachers but
students and parents combined.
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
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5.3 Recommendations
The study suggests the following as ways to improve the academic achievement of students:
i. School heads should provide job descriptions not only for themselves but also their deputies and
teachers; district officers and school heads should provide high quality training for aspiring school
leaders, hiring personnel selectively and co-ordination of state and district efforts especially through
the Results Based Management system (RBMs).
ii. Taking career guidance more seriously than what has been happening in the past.
iii. Employing adequate qualified teachers who are dedicated to their work.
iv. Teachers to start maintaining discipline in the classrooms by planning carefully all their lessons.
v. Heads to establish a hospitable learning environment and engage relevant authorities in rare or
outstanding cases of discipline.
vi. Parents should sacrifice in order to provide adequate resources for their children at school. Government
and the private sector should also help the less privileged pupils at school.
vii. Heads and teachers should tactfully establish good relations with the community.
viii. More secondary schools should be built to cater for long distances travelled by pupils.
ix. Chiefs and headmen should always engage community members and discourage them from practicing
witchcraft. They can even seek the services of prophets and the Zimbabwe National Association of
Traditional Healers (ZINATHA) to help them.
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APPENDIX
(1) Data gathered through researchers observations. (Observer-participant).
The researcher (main author), through observations, where he was at the station for a period of not less
than 3 years, identified the following factors as affecting students academic achievement: (Internal factors and
external factors).
i. Lack of proper and consistent careers guidance and counselling to students.
ii. School- community relations which sometimes are sour.
iii. Distance or proximity to the school. Distance travelled by students from home to school.
iv. Students family socio-economic status (SES) which is represented by their parents level of income,
education and occupation.
v. Leadership style by the school head.
vi. Witchcraft activities by parents and evil spirits that frequently attack pupils at school.
vii. Discipline and order (parents, teachers as well as students).
viii. Qualified and dedicated teachers at the school.
ix. Teacher-pupil ratio which is slightly above the official ratios with 1: 54 at O level against 1:30
(official ratio).
Data gathered through review of official documents since 2009-2016 from the school administration:
(minute books, heads staff records, charts, Orphans and Vulnerable Children register).
The following were identified as factors that affect students academic achievement:
i. Discipline and order amongst pupils with statistics revealing that at least 2 form 4 pupils are implicated
each year. Parents also need to be disciplined and be orderly by attending and supporting school
meetings and projects respectively.
ii. Availability of qualified and dedicated teachers. At Marimasimbe there is low staff turnover especially
since 2013.
iii. Enrolment of low achieving students as revealed by their grade 7 results at form one entry.
iv. Distance travelled by students from home to school which averages 8km for more than half of the
pupils.
v. Type of school leadership by the school head.
vi. High teacher- pupil ratio both at junior level and ordinary level.
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(2) Data from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children register reveals the following:
FORM 3 FORM 4
Child headed families 2 0
Double Orphans 11 6
Mother Deceased only 2 4
Father Deceased only 14 15
Vulnerable Children 10 2
Total number of teachers at Marimasimbe secondary school is 21; 13 are males while 8 are females.
Teachers with at least a tertiary qualification are 20.
Official records also show that Marimasimbe secondary school is community owned, located in Jiri Ward
22. Parents socio-economic status is very low as they rely heavily on cotton production, maize and nuts
production and at a smaller scale cattle breeding for subsistence purposes. The general trend reveals that boys
perform better than girls. The dominant religious sects are Roman Catholics and Zion churches with
traditionalists alongside.
(7) Research questions directed to teachers on factors that affect students academic achievement in
Zimbabwean rural secondary school: A case study of Marimasimbe Secondary school.
i. How many years have you been at Marimasimbe secondary school?
ii. Do you have a tertiary qualification?
iii. Have you taught a Form 4 class previously?
iv. What could be the internal (inside the school) factors that affect students academic achievement?
v. What could be the external (outside the school) factors that affect students academic achievement?
vi. Comment on the general trend of academic performance between boys and girls since 2009 2016 and
the likely causes?
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Factors Affecting Students Academic Achievement in Zimbabwes Rural Secondary Schools:
A Case Study of Marimasimbe Secondary School in Jiri community
Instructions: Please tick your response under the Yes / No headlines at the far right.
Questions
YES NO
Does the enrolment criterion of the school affect students academic achievement at O Level?
Girls perform better than boys
Distance or proximity to the school affects the students academic achievement
The school heads leadership style affects the students academic achievement
Low students family socio-economic status leads to poor performance
Qualified and dedicated teachers lead to better academic achievements amongst students
High student teacher ratios are detrimental to students academic performance
Good school community relations enhances the academic environment and achievements of
students
Discipline and order in the school are important for better academic achievement of students
Any other important factors that affect students academic achievement!
..
(Hand delivered to teachers and students and collected after 1 week)
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