TITLE:
Challenges Affecting Grade 12 Learners Performance in O’Level Biology in //Kharas Region, Namibia
AUTHORS:
Victoria Namene Verner, Hedwig Utjingirua Kandjeo-Marenga, James Abah, Percy Mashebe
KEYWORDS:
Academic Performance, NSSCO Biology, Teacher Challenge, Learner Challenge, //Kharas Region
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.4,
April
12,
2022
ABSTRACT: The continued poor performances of grade 12 learners
in Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level (NSSCO) Biology in the
//Kharas region of Namibia has become a major public concern. Thus, this study
investigated the challenges affecting Grade 12 learners’ performance in NSSCO
Biology in the //Kharas Region, Namibia. Two categories of the sample,
consisting of 140 grade 12 learners and 12 Biology teachers were selected using
the simple random sampling method to complete learners and teachers’ questionnaires
respectively. Furthermore, a sub-sample of 12 learners and 7 teachers who completed
the questionnaires was purposively selected to participate in the follow-up
interview. Descriptive statistics (percentage) and thematic analysis method
were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The
study found that lack of relevant teaching and learning materials, learners’ indiscipline, lack of motivation, lack of laboratory facilities,
teachers’ high workload, and teachers’ poor subject content knowledge
constitute the major challenges affecting grade 12 learners’ performance in
NSSCO Biology in the study area. In order to address these challenges, the
participants suggested the following measures: introducing holiday classes to cover
excess workload and help slow learners; giving motivational speeches to
encourage the learners; organizing periodic training workshops for the
teachers; engaging subject advisors to guide teachers with subject content
knowledge; and tackling learners’ indiscipline.