Factors Affecting Girls’ Academic Performance in Community Secondary Schools A Study of Mbeya City

This study was concerned with the factors affecting girls’ academic performance in community secondary schools in Mbeya City. Specifically, it assessed the roles of school matrons and female teachers as role models, physical facilities (sanitary facilities and hostels), social practices and school timetable as key factors affecting girls’ academic performance in community secondary schools. Data were obtained from six selected community secondary schools. The study used descriptive research; two approaches were employed, qualitative approach and quantitative approach. Moreover the study applied four methods which were interview, survey, focused group discussion and documentary analysis. Also, two instruments which are questionnaires and interview guides were employed to obtain the data needed to achieve the objectives of this study. The selection of respondents was both purposive and random sampling techniques. As the findings of this study reveal, there is poor academic performance among girls in community secondary schools. Lack of matrons and shortage of female teachers as role models, lack and poor provision of physical facilities, hostels, social practices and school timetable are found to be great contributors to the poor academic performance among girls in community secondary schools. In order to improve the girls’ academic performance, it is recommended that the government and the society should improve school infrastructure for girls, and change attitudes towards girls’ education