Factors affecting academic performance of pupils in basic schools in Asawasi Sub Metro in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

The research sought to obtain evidence of the factors that were responsible for the academic performance of pupils in the Asawasi Sub Metro such as family background, pupils’ characteristics, teachers’ influence and the school environmental factors.The research was conducted using observation, interviews and questionnaires. A sample size of 1640 respondents representing a heterogeneous target population was drawn from the Asawasi Sub-Metro. The study revealed that persistent intrusion of the school premise by the public, ineffective use of teaching and learning materials (TLMs), and inadequate teaching and learning facilities disrupted teaching and learning and thus affected the academic performance of the pupils. It was concluded that the school environment, the community’s attitude towards education and the support given by the parents and other stakeholders affected the child’s academic development and performance. It was recommended that school authorities should organize PTA and School Performance Appraisal Meetings to educate the community to understand that the child’s total development is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders.