A STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL PUPILS IN BASRAH

This is a cross sectional study carried out to study the factors that may affect the academic performance of 3 rd intermediate school pupils. Ten intermediate schools were chosen randomly from different areas in Basrah Governorate for the period from 1st march-1st of May in 2004 (5 schools for girls and 5 schools for boys). The study involved 480 pupils (240 girls & 240 boys), chosen randomly systematically (one of two). They were interviewed and examined by the researcher using special questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study. The school performance of the pupils were classified in 2 classes according to the result of the mid year exam. It was found that the factors that had a significant effect on school performance include father’s education level and occupation, mother ’ s education level, vision and hearing problems, school attendance, crowding index and birth order. The study recommended provision of and proposal for education program to the parents to help them to motivate their children, improve communication with teachers and administration staff, periodic screening of vision and hearing, and education of teachers to be aware of pupils with problem and to recognize their needs.