Factors that influence students'underachievement : perspective from students, teachers and parents in a secondary school of the Maldives / Shahidha Abdul Gafoor

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the factors that influence students' underachievement and to find the strategies to diminish underachievement. Research methodology adapted for this study was qualitative with an interpretivist paradigm. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews from three different stakeholders group who are students, teachers as well as parents. The findings of this study show that there were three main areas that are associated with students' underachievement. They are factors associated with the students, school and parents. The data revealed that these three associations of factors play huge roles in students' underachievement. Besides, the findings show some of the strategies that could be used by these three parties to reduce the number of underachievers in the schools. The study found that due these factors that are associated with the students, teachers as well as parents influences the students towards underachievement can be reduced if the necessary steps are being taken care of.