FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF ISLAMIC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

Despite the efforts made by various governments in Ghana to expand

and improve the quality of education at various stages of our educational

institution, there are still a whole lot of students who are not able to make the

required grades to enable them further their education at the Senior High School

after their Basic Education Certificate Examination. (B.E.C.E). Islamic schools

in the Tamale metropolis are among the schools in Ghana that have enjoyed the

provision of educational infrastructure by successive governments, but the

performance of these schools is not encouraging.The dissertation looks at factors

affecting the performance of Islamic Junior High School students in the Tamale

metropolis. The study focused on home related factors, teacher related factors,

school related factors andcultural beliefs, on educational performance of

students in the Tamale metropolis.Simple random sampling and purposive

sampling procedures were used to select 130respondents. These comprise 50

students from six selected Islamic schools, 50 parentsfrom the same schools and

30 teachers. Questionnaires and interviews were theinstruments used to gather

data. The data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Percentages were calculated and tables constructed to simplify the analysis.The

outcome of the study indicates that, parents’ and guardians’ educational

attainment affected their wards academic performance. Again, truancy among

students is amajor problem.It is recommended that a wider scale study be

conducted nationwide in other unit schools, on factors affecting the performance

of students in the schools.