Assessment of The Factors Influencing Low Academic Performance in Final Nursing Examinations: A Case of Certificate and Diploma Programmes in Eastern Zone, Tanzania
The study on the assessment of the factors influencing low academic performance in final nursing examinations for certificate and diploma programmes was conducted from June to July, 2015 at eastern zone nursing schools. The main objective of this study was to investigate the academic performance of final year examinations nursing students. Specifically, the study ought to identify key factors leading to poor academic performance, examine trends of academic performance for the past three decades and develop current measure for such problem. The study was conducted using descriptive research design where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. A total sample of 138 respondents were sampled. Data were collected using interviews, direct field observation and documentary literature reviews methods were used. SPSS Version 20 and content analysis was used for data analysis where results were presented in tables and figures. Among the major findings includes severe shortage of teaching staff leading to deployment of unqualified teaching staff in the nursing training schools, shortage of relevant books, inadequate time for implementing curriculum, shortage of instructional materials for classroom, clinical and skills laboratory and lack of committed and adequate personnel for clinical teaching and inadequate supervision of student nurses. Based on the findings, the study recommends that, students’ performance will be improved by having adequate qualified teaching staff, equip college/schools and clinical setting facilities with all necessary updated learning instructional materials. Moreover, provision of orientation to teaching staff on effective implementation of curriculum would improve performance of students and consideration for changing curriculum duration as measure to provide adequate time for implementing nursing curriculum.
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