Investigating factors that lead to underperformance in mathematics, physical sciences and life sciences

Abstract: This study investigated factors thought to influence the underperformance of learners in three different subjects, namely Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. Case-study research was conducted using qualitative data collection and analysis. Since this is a study of limited scope (coursework Master’s degree), I relied heavily on literature, and the main reports I used were from the Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE) report (Value in the Classroom), World Economic Forum (WEF), Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Program for International Student Assessments (PISA). The data-collecting methods used were questionnaires administered to 8 teachers; focus-group interviews with 9 learners; lesson observations and individual reflective interviews with 2 teachers. The questionnaire responses were reduced to numerical data and presented graphically using Excel software; the interview data were transcribed, coded and categorised to identify emerging themes; the lesson observations were analysed using the Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) (Sawada, Piburn, Falconer, Turley, Benford & Bloom, 2000) to record and rate the pedagogical orientation of the teachers. A forth secondary data set was used. This data was provided by my supervisor who conducted a case study of science teaching and learning in two Finnish classrooms. In the final stage of data analysis, the findings from this study were interrogated and contrasted with the Finnish study using third-generation Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) (Engestrӧm, 1987) as a lens. The CHAT analysis identified certain external and internal factors and tensions in the South African case, and assisted me in providing a more nuanced description of the factors influencing the performance of learners in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. The following emerged as major challenges influencing learner performance in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences in this research: insufficient mathematics and science teachers; under-qualified teachers; teachers’ sense of...M.Ed