An exploration of the factors affecting the student-teacher relationship of sixth grade low achievers / Aminath Ifaadha Ahmed

Abstract

In the education field, aspects related to the learner and the teacher play an important role in leading the teaching and learning process to success or failure. Hence, the relationship between the students and teachers is considered as a key component that develops individuals in their behavioural, social as well as academic attributes. This research was conducted with the purpose of identifying the factors that affect the student-teacher relationship of low achieving students. Throughout the study sixth grade students and teachers were interviewed to gain an understanding on how they perceive a good student-teacher relationship, how their treatment is towards each other and what reasons were behind it. In addition to that, observations were carried out to triangulate the data.

By focusing on the context of a single school in Hulhumale', this qualitative, interpretivist research was carried out and using the findings from both interviews and observations, main factors that affect the relationship were identified and discussed. The main factors were divided into two; factors related to individuals and factors related to classroom environment. Some highlighted factors include student misconduct, family influences, partiality and classroom engagement. Ultimately, these were used to answer the question whether there was a difference in this relationship between high and low achievers.

The findings reflected that teachers and students need to rectify the problems of certain treatment towards each other that hinder the development of a strong student-teacher relationship. Schools need to offer more opportunities for them to achieve an effective result on maintaining a positive rapport and parents need to show more involvement in their children's academic progress and behavioural attributes.