Causes of Girls' Poor Academic Performance in Science Subjects Kibaale District, Uganda

Abstract

This study aimed to determine why girls perform poorly in science subjects. The main objective of the study ·was to investigate why girls perform poorly in science subjects in Kibaale District. The respondents to the research ·were students as 'well as the teachers of the sampled secondary schools in Kibaale District. One of the findings of the present study relates to the method of teaching normally employed in the science classrooms at secondary level in Uganda. The method was teacher-centered, and student 's ·were passive and on the receiving end,learning algorithms to apply to solve science problems. It seems that insufficient opportunities are provided to girls to be involved in their own learning, and emphasizes the algorithmic procedures used for solving mathematics problems . . Teachers were found to be playing a fundamental role in influencing students learning of sciences. It was also found that teachers were seen to be strict, and that student's appreciated the strictness, claiming that this helped them to have a disciplined class in ·which to learn mathematics. Achievements, concerning success or failure in sciences, it. was found that students attributed success primarily to efforts-evidence con-zing from the transcripts of pupils interviews as discussed. These findings agreed with the findings of money and Thornton