Investigating the Causes of Poor Performance of Grade 12 Pupils in Physics Lessons Involving Graphs of Motion

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the causes of poor performance among grade 12 pupils on topics related to graphs of motion in Luampa District of Western Province at Luampa and Mbanyutu Secondary schools. In order to attain the objective of this study pre-post quasi experimental and survey designs, meaning qualitative and quantitative research approach was used. The subjects of the study were 32 learners or students and 2 teachers of physics who were selected by simple random sampling technique. The instruments used in this study were questionnaire and observation and to supplement these instruments, tests, pre-test and post-test were used to collect data of the study. The data gathered through tests were analyzed by using statistical package for social science, observation and questionnaires were analysed using QDA Miner Lite. Results of the study revealed that learner centred approach and planning lessons before teaching can improve the performance of grade 12 learners on topics involving graphs of motion. This in turn improves the performance of learners in physics. The researcher assessed the impact of learner centred on grade 12 learners’ academic achievement physics as a result of his assessment he assured that the learner centred approach has an impact on academic achievement of grade 12 pupils in physics. So, the schools which were under study can make continuous program to support learner centred approach to improve the academic performance of grade 12 learners in physics. All the findings showed that learner centred and effective lesson planning can improve the performance of grade 12 learners in topics which involve graphs of motion in Luampa district,especially at Mbanyutu and Luampa secondary schools.