School-based Factors Explaining Poor Academic Performance of Primary School Pupils in Lushoto District, Tanzania

Abstract

AbstractA study was undertaken to establish why several primary schools in Lushotodistrict, in Tanzania were experiencing poorest academic performanceacross years in the country. Literature was yet to empirically establishthe issues which could explain what was transpiring in the schools.Therefore, it was important to undertake explanatory mixed methodsresearch that involved administering questionnaires to heads of schools,reviewing pupils ' records, interviewing Ward Educational Officers, andholding discussions with selected teachers. The study found out that pooracademic performance among Lushoto primary schools is due to weakschool leadership, imbalanced allocation of teachers, poor managementof learning time and inadequate infrastructure. It is recommended, amongothers, that education managers in Lushoto should take measures whichtarget improvement around each factor.Keywords: primary education, school leadership, school infrastructure,Tanzania.