Does Peri Urban Location of School Affect the Performance of Pupils?

Abstract

The study investigates whether the peri-urban location of a school affects the performance of pupils using Nyamandlovu secondary school as a case study. The research is largely qualitative and uses primary data from interviews with the school administration, 3 focus group discussions with students, the teachers and School Development Committee, and observations of the systems of the school. Findings indicate that although there are other challenges, the peri- urban location of this school causes chronic staff absenteeism, high staff turnover, lack of constancy, lack of a school ethos and culture which breeds lack of commitment to duty and underperformance of pupils. We conclude that the peri- urban location of this school is largely responsible for its poor performance.