Educators’ perceptions of primary school learners’ performance in Mthunzini Circuit
The study was a descriptive survey designed to find out educators’ perceptions of learners’ performance in selected public primary schools in Mthunzini circuit in Empangeni district. Subjects for the study were one hundred and seventy (170) educators randomly drawn from primary schools. Views were sampled through 5 Likert-type questionnaire.This was to address the three research questions formulated to guide the study. Data were analysed using chi-square and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) resulting in descriptive data. The findings of the study revealed that teachers’ qualifications, experience and level of specialization do influence learners’ performance. The study also revealed that inadequate teaching and learning materials (T/LMs) and other study materials, educator and learner absenteeism and lateness and inability to complete the content of the teaching syllabus and other school related factors contribute to poor academic performance of learners. Outside school related factors include provision of basic needs and lack of parental involvement due to a number of learners who are from single household families. They lack monitoring mechanisms of their children’s school work as intensity of examinations and supervision. Recommendations made from the study were that, the appointment of educators in primary schools should be strictly aligned with their field of specialization. The Department of Basic Education should supply primary schools with adequate teaching and learning materials as well as other study materials to help enhance teaching and learning to raise the academic standards of learners. Likewise the supervision and monitoring in the Department of Basic Education should be strengthened. Subject and circuit supervisors should be more regular in the schools to help motivate educators and learners to work more efficiently and effectively. Regular sensitization should be organized in the circuit to inform parents about the value of education to children, the community and the nation as a whole to encourage parental involvement.
primary school --learners --educators --Mthunzini Circuit
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