Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the reason for falling performance of students. The survey design was to carry out the study which sampled the opinions of students, teachers and administrators. The targeted population for the study comprised of one secondary school in Akwaya municipality while the sample size was made up of 80 students, 15 teachers and 5 administrators of Government Secondary School Akwaya.

The instruments used for data collection was questionnaires addressed to the students, teachers and administrators of G.H.S Akwaya. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that, the lack of teaching learning facilities contribute to falling performance. Base on findings, Some recommendations were made.

The research carried out on an investigation into the falling academic performance of students in the G.C.E in the suburb. Case study government High School Akwaya, three specific objectives and three research questions were used and also some important words were defined such as, suburb, performance, G.C.E. Not forgetting the fact that G.H.S Akwaya had a beautiful geographical scope. Also in the next chapter which is chapter two most of the study was based on theoretical frame work, contextual framework, conceptual framework and Empirical studies which is to discuss on the topic and of course  research methodology which were method use to find out what confront school in the suburb.

Chapter Four (4) which presents data analysis from questionnaires in line with research question to explain why the falling performance in the G.C.E results of students in the suburb and Chapter Five (5) which briefly discussed the result presented in chapter four (4) in details and discussion was done in relation to research questions, the performance of students has been falling because of untrained teachers and inadequate teaching learning facilities.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The world is changing rapidly. Families, parents, are much different today than they were some thirty (30) years ago. Each of such change is having a major impact on education at all levels and in all societies more particularly in the suburb. The question of falling performance in education is fundamental yet not many students, teachers, head teachers, principals and educational policy makers have given it enough consideration. (Nwana,1979).

Education in Cameroon has registered much progress since independence in 1960. This is in the area of schools and the expanded enrolment by students. Despite this progress in urban areas, the rural areas have been having a falling academic performance in the GCE. For instant the case of GHS Akwaya. And as such the issue needs to be addressed.

This is evident in the General Certificate of Education Examination results. The falling performance of student in the GCE examination implies that there is a problem in the suburb like the case of GHS Akwaya and as such needs immediate attention.

Background of the Study

According to the regional delegation of secondary education BUEA Akwaya is found in the south west region of Cameroon in Manyu Division. It is located at the border with the republic of Nigeria and about 80 kilometers from Mamfe Centre. Akwaya town in particular and Akwaya sub division as a whole with about 90 villages had no secondary schools to content with.

The only post primary institution that existed at the time was the rural artisan and home economic center (SAR/SM). This is an institution which is technically oriented to train semi skill technicians in two year program for consumption in the royal areas. Sad to say that many parents who detested having their children enrolled in SAR/SM sent them to neighboring republic of Nigeria for further studies primarily due to proximity.

Secondly, most parents and (of course peasant farmers) sold their produce in Nigeria for naira and were not very comfortable converting this currency into francs CFA of Cameroon to send their children in secondary schools in Cameroon. They were equally not comfortable with the exchange rates which were detrimental and to influence them into high cost of educating their children in the country. Only and enlighten group of parents send their children to Government High School Mamfe and later to Government High School Eyumojock and Government Technical High School (GTHS Mamfe of which are quite close to Akwaya Subdivision.

In addition some parents send their kid to lay private school like Presbyterian High School like PHS Besongabang, Queen of Rosery College QRC Okoyong, Ndchang College. Enonchong Memorial college (E.M.C) B. Defunct Tambe –Takor Typing Institute Mamfe

Government Secondary School GSS Akwaya was created in 1989 and was the first ever full-fledged secondary school in Akwaya subdivision in September 1990 the school went operational having a batch of 250 students. At inception it shared a temporal accommodation with Government Primary School G.P.S Akwaya from 1990 to 1994 when the college relocated to its present permanent site. as government education policy is to bring education nearer to the people as much as possible, there has been a proliferation of post primary school of Akwaya subdivision in particular and the Republic of Cameroon as a whole in this premise Akwaya subdivision today boost of many such school among which are six [6] grammar, four technical, one vocational, via Government High School Akwaya, Government Secondary School Ballin. Government Secondary School Akwaya, Government Secondary Batche, Government Secondary School Ololo and Government Secondary School Batabi, Government Technical School (Celtic Akwaya) Government Technical Kesham, Government Technical School Kajifu and SAR/SM Akwaya and a Lone Vocational College Saint Agnes, opened and run by the catholic mission. In the year 2007 G.H.S Akwaya was given a second cycle which has formed it into a high school, today GHS Akwaya has an enrollment of over 650 students taking only the Arts subject.

Performance wise GHS Akwaya has graduated several Batches of students from the second cycle with the dismal General Certificate of Education G.C.E results at both Ordinary and Advance level this falling and fluctuation performance of students in GHS Akwaya.

From the above analyses on line graphs , it has been realized that the result of GHS Akwaya were generally very poor from 1999 to 2003 the GCE Ordinary Level Results were Impressive Especially in 2001 to 2002 from 2004 the results fell drastically and in 20011 they were worst with 28.6 percent . In 2012 the results rose to 75 % this performance drop has been accounted for by several factors. firstly in 2003the results of GHS Akwaya center were withheld for investigation of view of suspected examination malpractices .they were realized after p[roper investigation and the resolution taken with the assistance of the college authority to this led to a record performance of 75.1% that year.

Following this incident the center was banded for a couple of years subsequently the GCE examination was written in other centers thereby displacing the candidate from their comfort zone which had adverse effects on their performance. G.H.S Akwaya regained its examination center status only in 2007 with the creation of second cycle .secondly the intake at the second cycle was mostly made of failed and drop out students from other schools who wanted to re write their GCE “A” Level Papers. No properly groomed candidate were enrolled into the second cycle hence poor performance for the so called adventurers. At the O/ level, performance from the year 2007 was also on the falling this is clearly seen on the line graph for o level above.

Thirdly most schools in Akwaya subdivision are seriously handicapped of the basic necessities of studies. This includes in adequate qualified teaching staffs, mobility of few available staffs for personal reasons abandonments, no up to date library for research. A greater proportion of the population is uneducated and therefore it is ignorance of the benefits of education to their children in particular and the community as a whole. All of this contributes to the unsatisfactory state of affaire leading to falling performance

Statement of problem

The problems of the falling performance of students in rural secondary school in Cameroon as having been the case of GHS Akwaya which since its creation has witnessed a sadly fall in the results of GCE o levels and Advanced level ,compared to other institutions mostly in the urban areas . This situation is what motivated this study which hopefully will propose recommendation from a way to increase students’ performance in GHS Akwaya.

Objective of the study

Here we are going to discuss two types of objectives the general and the specific objectives

General objectives

The general objective is to investigate the falling performance of students in the suburb in the GCE examinations like the case of GHS Akwaya

Specific Objectives

1. To find out the causes of poor performance of students in G.H.S. Akwaya.
2. To find out the effect of this poor performance on the students in G.H.S. Akwaya.
3. To find out the most suitable method to redress this situation of student in G.H.S. Akwaya.

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