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Social Issues on the Academic Performance of Secondary School Learners in the Limpopo Province

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 12, 174 - 183, 11.11.2022
https://doi.org/10.31458/iejes.1143369

Abstract

South Africa, after Apartheid and with a democratic government and newly amended policies, committed to provider equal opportunities to every citizen, including the right and access to education. The purpose of this study, following the state of the education system as it is, is to investigate the social issues that contribute to the poor performance of secondary school learners in South Africa, and specifically the Palala circuit in the Waterberg district, Limpopo. A mixed methods approach was used (qualitative and quantitative) to investigate the possible improvements that could be used to deal with the social issues facing secondary school learners. The target population was 10 secondary schools in the Palala circuit in the Waterberg district, Limpopo. The sample was 10 principals, 10 Head of Departments (HoDs), 10 Life Orientation teachers, and 30 learners, 3 per school in the 10 selected schools. The response rate was 93% and data was collected by using questionnaire surveys and interviews with the same 56 participants. The study revealed the predominant social issues that affect the academic performance of learners in secondary schools in the Palala circuit as poverty, teenage pregnancy, bullying, low self-esteem, and parental unemployment. The strategies to eradicate these social issues are in place and need the input and active participation of all stakeholders, especially government, community members, teachers, parents, and the learners themselves.

References

  • Chinyoka, K. (2014). Influence of home based factors on the academic performance of girl learners from poverty stricken families: A case of Zimbabwe. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Publishing, 5(6). https://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/viewFile/2410/2384
  • De Wet, N., Amoo, E.O. & Odimegwu, C.O. (2018). Teenage pregnancy in South Africa: Where are the young men involved? South African Journal of Child Health, 2018(1), 44-50. http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/sajch/article/view/1443
  • Engelbrecht, P., Nel, M., Nel, N. & Tlale, D. (2015). Enacting understanding of inclusion in complex contexts: classroom practices of South African teachers. South African Journal of Education, 35(3). https://www.ajol.info/index.php/saje/article/view/121843
  • GuhaThakurta, S. & Chetty, P. (2015). Understanding research philosophy. Knowledge Tank.
  • Gupta, B., Gupta, R. & Kumar, A, (2018). A bibliometric study of Indian contribution on Indian economy during 2006-17. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 8, 79-84. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327337838_A_bibliometric_study_of_Indian_contribution_on_Indian_Economy_during_2006-17
  • Hesse-Biber, S. N. & Leavy, P. (2011). The practice of qualitative research. (2nd ed., 360–365). Singapore: SAGE Publication Inc.
  • Katamei, J.M. & Omwono, G.A. (2015). Intervention strategies to improve students' academic performance in public secondary schools in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya. International Journal of Social Science Studies, 3, 107. https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/ijsss/article/view/796
  • Kibaara, T.M. & Kabura, G.W. (2015) Factors ınfluencing academic performance in urban ınformal settlements in kenya: a case study of public primary schools of Kibera slums, Nairobi county. Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation, 3(1), 1-8. http://ojs.kabarak.ac.ke/index.php/kjri/article/view/47
  • Kumar, R. (2011). Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.
  • Lall, M.C. & House, C. (2005). The challenges for India's education system. London: Chatham House.
  • Mafokwane, M.F. (2017). An investigation of the challenges affecting reading in the foundation phase in rural areas of bolobedu, limpopo province (Doctoral dissertation), University of South Africa.
  • Marx, H. (2018). Children’s decisions to support victims of bullying: friend and peer influences and the effects of a cross-age teaching of social issues intervention. University of Chester. https://chesterrep.openrepository.com/handle/10034/621793?show=full
  • Mogotlane, S. (2020). Orphans and vulnerable children's perceptions of child poverty in Cator Manor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. (PhD Dissertation), University of KwaZulu-Natal.
  • Mohamedayupkhan, M. & Mani, S. (2014). A study on higher secondary students personal problems, study involvement and academic achievement. International Journal of Science and Research, 5(5), 876-882. https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v3i5/MDIwMTMxOTQw.pdf
  • Moyo, W. (2013). Causes and effects of poverty on academic achievements of rural secondary school students: Case of tshazi secondary school in Insiza district. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 3(10), 2104-2113.
  • Nieuwenhuis, J. (2018). The interaction between school poverty and agreeableness in predicting educational attainment. Personality and Individual Differences, 127, 85-88. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886918300680
  • Ramulumo, M.R., & Pitsoe, V.J. (2013). Teenage pregnancy in South African schools: Challenges, trends and policy issues. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(13), 755.
  • Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students. Pearson Education. https://www.richtmann.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/1569
  • Starratt, R.J., (2004). Leadership of the contested terrain of education for democracy. Journal of Education Administration, 42(6), 724-731. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ802987https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ802987
  • Taylor, S. (2010). The performance of South African schools: Implication for economic development. stellenbosch: University of stellenbosch. Technology, 8(2), 79-84. Taherdoost, H. (2016). Validity and reliability of the research instrument; how to test the validation of a questionnaire/survey in a research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319998004_Validity_and_Reliability_of_the_Research_Instrument_How_to_Test_the_Validation_of_a_QuestionnaireSurvey_in_a_Research
  • Teh, M. & Otman, M.S. (2018). Influence of social environment on student’s behaviour. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(7). https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/4520/Influence_of_Social_Environment_on_Students_Behaviour.pdf
  • Tustin, D.H., Ligthelm, A.A., Martins, J.H. & Van Wuk, H.D.J. (2010). Marketing research in practice. 2nd Impression.

Social Issues on the Academic Performance of Secondary School Learners in the Limpopo Province

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 12, 174 - 183, 11.11.2022
https://doi.org/10.31458/iejes.1143369

Abstract

South Africa, after Apartheid and with a democratic government and newly amended policies, committed to provider equal opportunities to every citizen, including the right and access to education. The purpose of this study, following the state of the education system as it is, is to investigate the social issues that contribute to the poor performance of secondary school learners in South Africa, and specifically the Palala circuit in the Waterberg district, Limpopo. A mixed methods approach was used (qualitative and quantitative) to investigate the possible improvements that could be used to deal with the social issues facing secondary school learners. The target population was 10 secondary schools in the Palala circuit in the Waterberg district, Limpopo. The sample was 10 principals, 10 Head of Departments (HoDs), 10 Life Orientation teachers, and 30 learners, 3 per school in the 10 selected schools. The response rate was 93% and data was collected by using questionnaire surveys and interviews with the same 56 participants. The study revealed the predominant social issues that affect the academic performance of learners in secondary schools in the Palala circuit as poverty, teenage pregnancy, bullying, low self-esteem, and parental unemployment. The strategies to eradicate these social issues are in place and need the input and active participation of all stakeholders, especially government, community members, teachers, parents, and the learners themselves.

References

  • Chinyoka, K. (2014). Influence of home based factors on the academic performance of girl learners from poverty stricken families: A case of Zimbabwe. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Publishing, 5(6). https://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/viewFile/2410/2384
  • De Wet, N., Amoo, E.O. & Odimegwu, C.O. (2018). Teenage pregnancy in South Africa: Where are the young men involved? South African Journal of Child Health, 2018(1), 44-50. http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/sajch/article/view/1443
  • Engelbrecht, P., Nel, M., Nel, N. & Tlale, D. (2015). Enacting understanding of inclusion in complex contexts: classroom practices of South African teachers. South African Journal of Education, 35(3). https://www.ajol.info/index.php/saje/article/view/121843
  • GuhaThakurta, S. & Chetty, P. (2015). Understanding research philosophy. Knowledge Tank.
  • Gupta, B., Gupta, R. & Kumar, A, (2018). A bibliometric study of Indian contribution on Indian economy during 2006-17. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 8, 79-84. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327337838_A_bibliometric_study_of_Indian_contribution_on_Indian_Economy_during_2006-17
  • Hesse-Biber, S. N. & Leavy, P. (2011). The practice of qualitative research. (2nd ed., 360–365). Singapore: SAGE Publication Inc.
  • Katamei, J.M. & Omwono, G.A. (2015). Intervention strategies to improve students' academic performance in public secondary schools in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya. International Journal of Social Science Studies, 3, 107. https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/ijsss/article/view/796
  • Kibaara, T.M. & Kabura, G.W. (2015) Factors ınfluencing academic performance in urban ınformal settlements in kenya: a case study of public primary schools of Kibera slums, Nairobi county. Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation, 3(1), 1-8. http://ojs.kabarak.ac.ke/index.php/kjri/article/view/47
  • Kumar, R. (2011). Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.
  • Lall, M.C. & House, C. (2005). The challenges for India's education system. London: Chatham House.
  • Mafokwane, M.F. (2017). An investigation of the challenges affecting reading in the foundation phase in rural areas of bolobedu, limpopo province (Doctoral dissertation), University of South Africa.
  • Marx, H. (2018). Children’s decisions to support victims of bullying: friend and peer influences and the effects of a cross-age teaching of social issues intervention. University of Chester. https://chesterrep.openrepository.com/handle/10034/621793?show=full
  • Mogotlane, S. (2020). Orphans and vulnerable children's perceptions of child poverty in Cator Manor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. (PhD Dissertation), University of KwaZulu-Natal.
  • Mohamedayupkhan, M. & Mani, S. (2014). A study on higher secondary students personal problems, study involvement and academic achievement. International Journal of Science and Research, 5(5), 876-882. https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v3i5/MDIwMTMxOTQw.pdf
  • Moyo, W. (2013). Causes and effects of poverty on academic achievements of rural secondary school students: Case of tshazi secondary school in Insiza district. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 3(10), 2104-2113.
  • Nieuwenhuis, J. (2018). The interaction between school poverty and agreeableness in predicting educational attainment. Personality and Individual Differences, 127, 85-88. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886918300680
  • Ramulumo, M.R., & Pitsoe, V.J. (2013). Teenage pregnancy in South African schools: Challenges, trends and policy issues. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(13), 755.
  • Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students. Pearson Education. https://www.richtmann.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/1569
  • Starratt, R.J., (2004). Leadership of the contested terrain of education for democracy. Journal of Education Administration, 42(6), 724-731. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ802987https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ802987
  • Taylor, S. (2010). The performance of South African schools: Implication for economic development. stellenbosch: University of stellenbosch. Technology, 8(2), 79-84. Taherdoost, H. (2016). Validity and reliability of the research instrument; how to test the validation of a questionnaire/survey in a research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319998004_Validity_and_Reliability_of_the_Research_Instrument_How_to_Test_the_Validation_of_a_QuestionnaireSurvey_in_a_Research
  • Teh, M. & Otman, M.S. (2018). Influence of social environment on student’s behaviour. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(7). https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/4520/Influence_of_Social_Environment_on_Students_Behaviour.pdf
  • Tustin, D.H., Ligthelm, A.A., Martins, J.H. & Van Wuk, H.D.J. (2010). Marketing research in practice. 2nd Impression.
There are 22 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Studies on Education
Journal Section Review Article
Authors

Liliian Whylken This is me 0000-0003-1612-5484

Alfred Modise 0000-0003-2950-9129

Sepeng Percy This is me 0000-0003-4017-6898

Early Pub Date October 31, 2022
Publication Date November 11, 2022
Submission Date July 12, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 6 Issue: 12

Cite

APA Whylken, L., Modise, A., & Percy, S. (2022). Social Issues on the Academic Performance of Secondary School Learners in the Limpopo Province. International E-Journal of Educational Studies, 6(12), 174-183. https://doi.org/10.31458/iejes.1143369

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