INFLUENCE OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON THE LEARNERS’ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KADAMA TOWN COUNCIL, KIBUKU DISTRICT
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Date
2024-08-30
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ABSTRACT
This study is about the Influence of COVID- 19 Pandemic on the Learners‘ Academic Performance in Selected Secondary Schools in Kadama Town Council, Kibuku District. The study adopted the descriptive research design. Evidence abounds of the influence of the pandemic on the learners in Kibuku District. The general purpose of the study was to examine the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the learners‘ academic performance in selected secondary schools in Kadama Town Council, Kibuku District. Specifically, the study sought; i) to examine the psychological influence of COVID- 19 pandemic on the academic performance learners, ii) to analyse the social influence on the academic performance of learners in Kadama Town Council, Kibuku District, iii) to assess ways on how the influence of COVID- 19 pandemic can be mitigated. The study covered 04 selected secondary schools in Kadama Town Council, Kibuku District. The population of the study comprised 131 with 01 Education Officer, 05 head teachers, 26 teachers, and 100 students totaling to 131respondents and data was collected from a sample size of 097 respondents. Both Random and Purposive sampling techniques were employed to collect data in the Town Council. Data was collected by the researcher who developed three instruments; questionnaire, focus and evaluation checklists for the teachers, school heads and learners respectively. The instruments were validated by three experts and both from the Department of Education. The reliability coefficient was; 0.88 for section A, B, C and D respectively with a reliability coefficient of 0.94. The study found out that some parents in the sub-county have left their children, ―to whom it may concern.‖ The way some children behave shows there is very little input from the parents. During the pandemic, children lost hope. They needed someone to encourage them or even some books of hope to read which was not the case…? There was need for ssensitization of parents and teachers by the healthy workers and other experts should be carried out with regard to their role and responsibility to do counselling. Government to provide vaccines of children from 6 years of age and strengthen legal and policy framework that allows the constitution of vaccination for all. Based on the above findings, it is evident that COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the academic performance of learners in all aspects. Therefore, devising necessary interventions like talking to the learners, guidance and counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, good parental care, psychological assistance, reporting of domestic violence and vaccination would combat challenges associated with academic performance as mandatory.