Causes of poor academic performance in school going children with a view to prepare and deliver a module on effective learning techniques

Abstract

Education is one of the most important aspects of human resource development. Learning is a product not only for formal schooling, but also families, countries and peers, social, economic and cultural forces affect learning and thus school achievement. Aim of the Study: To identify the causes of poor academic performance among school-going children with implementation of a module for improving their academics. Methodology: A non-experimental descriptive retrospective research design was selected. A quantitative approach with non-experimental descriptive retrospective research design was used for the study. Thirty samples from Islahiya Public School, Puthur, Kottakkal, Kerala, India, were selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique. Socio-demographic data were assessed using socio-demographic performa, four-point rating scale for assessing the causes of poor academic performance, checklist for assessing causes of poor academic performance and the use of learning technique, and bio-physiologic tool for assessing visual and hearing problems. Data were analyzed and interpreted by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results and Conclusion: The analysis revealed that 50% of students have severe causes, 60% of students have average knowledge regarding the effective learning techniques, 13% of students have mild visual problem, 3% of them have severe visual impairment, 13% of students have bone conduction greater than air conduction, there is a significant association between causes of poor academic performance as measured by checklist with gender, type of family, residence area, educational status of mother, and there is a significant association between causes of poor academic performance as measured by rating scale with residence area, mode of play, amount of daily study hours, and parent’s employment (p-value <0.05).