In developing countries like Nigeria, Education or Schooling is still much very desired and put much value on because through education, you are empowered and knowledgeable thus bringing out the best in yourself. To succeed and to be relevant in this part of the world, you must be educated. Because of the importance of Education in Nigeria and the factors surrounding it such as costs and so on. Many cannot afford education thereby making education a sort of commodity that can only be purchased by the rich and the average people. Though efforts were put into getting free education for the poor in Nigeria but such freebie only ends once you complete high school thus leading to half baked education.
Thinking through some causes of failure among children in school. I found some causes which actually constitute to why some students fail academically in schools using Nigeria as a case study.
1. Negligence of the parent to help their children academically after school.
Sometimes the failure of the child comes mostly from his or her parents. A child who is not getting a helping hand from his parent in his homework is most likely to fail. Teachers in schools are not the only one who contribute to a child's success, the parent also have work to do. Some parents believe that it's the single role of the teacher to make sure their children excel academically without their intervention, they will not find time to help their children or wards in their assignments or homework. This will always have a negative impact in the child's academic performance.
Help your children always in their homework after school. If you are illiterate to help them, you can always employ the services of lesson teachers to simply help further your children academically. Trust me children appreciate it when you find time to go through their notes, appreciate them and help them with their homeworks and assignments. That's one way to help students to pass in school and reduce failure.
2. Lack of Textbooks and other reading aids.
A school without an adequate library to assist students grasp more knowledge will always lag behind academically. Likewise a student without textbooks and other reading materials will find it difficult to pass during exams. Textbooks are always employed to complement teaching. It's one of the teaching aids. Back then in school, some of our teachers sometimes teach us from the textbooks. Those who didn't have are always sent out of the class by teachers. This is to show the importance of textbooks in learning. For the more smaller children, the drawings from the textbooks might just be the right way for them to learn what was being taught as most of them cannot start reading and understanding from their notes. A good library should also be put to place where students can have access to large materials that can help in their academics.
3. Playfulness and Laziness on the part of the kid.
Oh gosh some students are so lazy, they won't do their assignments neither will they concentrate in class, all they always want to do is to play and play. They always forget why they are in schools. Such students will not do their homework or assignments when given. A serious student sometimes find it hard to pass talk less of the unserious one. Even though it's not that you read all day long and not play but you should be able to strike the balance between the two. Hard play will often make students to forget what they have been taught in school. This will leave them blank and of course affect them negatively. More academics less play.
4. Frequent Absence from School
A student who always skip classes has a higher chance at failing than those who are always present and punctual in school. Frequent absence from school might emanate from many circumstances. Sometimes a child is absent from school today because he or she have not pay his or her school fees because in places like Nigeria, if you didn't pay for tuition fees you won't be allowed to enter the class until you pay. Most times most of the children owing money are always sent home back to their parents. This will leave a negative impact on the child's performance because he will always miss classes and important lessons from the teacher.
Sometimes a child's absence may also be as a result of his poor health. All these things should be considered and taken care of.
5. The all-round nature of schools.
Trust me no matter how you teach some students certain subjects like mathematics they won't pass. Every student always have a hidden ability which sometimes does not correspond to what is being taught in schools. Someone who hates maths but have a flair for arts will always been thought of by many as unintelligent student or sort of. I wondered if knowing maths guarantee intelligence sometimes, but unfortunately schools do overlook our distinct abilities and areas of interest. All what those teachers want is just solving problems and other things which may not really suit others. Not all of us find maths interesting like @Jeaneth
Methods of teaching employed sometimes mar some children's assimilation. Some children learn best through visual mode of teaching, some learn in audio-visual mode. All these should be taken care of in schools. I don't know if @GooseBumps also experienced any of these while schooling in Nigeria
These are some of the causes of failure in schools. Education is costly but ignorance is more costly. Remember the benefits of being educated cannot be over emphasized. If you don't have a sound education make sure you give your children one. They are the future.
Nice Post