Factors that lead to high failure rate in history subject in selected schools in Mberengwa district

Abstract

This study attempted to look at factors that lead to high failure rate in history subject at Ordinary level in Mberengwa district. The study centered on main reasons why pupils perform badly in History subject. Reasons that gave rise to the research are ,lack of resources in rural based schools ,negative attitude toward learning, lack of specialist teachers are some of factors that lead to high failure rate in history subject. Descriptive survey was used as a research design. Data was collected using questionnaire and interviews from history teachers, heads of history department, school heads. The size of the sample comprises of five school teachers, three heads of department, two school heads and forty students. The researcher established that there was high failure rate in history subject due to negative attitudes, shortage of resources, unqualified teachers, and unavailability of national school syllabus and absences of feedback from ZIMSEC. The researcher recommended that parents and schools should cultivate positive attitudes, curriculum planners should design a national syllabus and feedback should be issued to schools and seminars and workshops to be done at cluster level.