Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the principal factors for students’ low performance in
physics with a special emphasis given to curriculum implementation: the case of grade 9 students
at Jijiga secondary and preparatory and Jijiga shek Abduselam schools, because of limited number
of schools in the area the two school were selected. Grade 9 students, physics teachers, department
heads and director from both schools have been used for the study. Two data gathering
instruments,(questionnaire and interview) were used to gather data for the study. A total of 344
questionnaires were filled by the students, physics teachers, department heads and directors respectively.
The text book and the syllabus of grade 9 were used. To meet the purpose of the study
descriptive survey design was used for the study. Factors influencing the learning process of physics
in the study area were assessed in relation to school administration; teachers; students; curriculum
and resource. The findings indicated the problems related to school administration, such
as Supervisory practice of the principal, Work relation of teachers with department, Leadership
motivation, Parent relation with the school based on students’ performance, Tutorial and remedial
classes. Teacher related factors were; not using active learning method, inability to encourage
students to ask questions and gives explanations, not using teaching aids, and the insuffiency of
Continuous assessment., poor teachers relation with parents’, inadequacy Pre-service teacher
training, preparation weekly plan and submission. Students related factors included; not doing
class work and home, high absenteeism, poor perception for the subject, not given sufficient time
for the subject physics Curriculum related factor included; lack of Simplicity and inadequacy of
examples and illustrations in the textbook, lack of explanation and supplementary worked examples,
inadequacy of teaching aids and practical activities for each sub units. Resource related factors,
compressed of lack of teaching aid material, lack of using school library in regular bases
and lack of relevant and updated books in the library. The results of this study demonstrate that in
both jigjig Senior Secondary and Shek Abduselam Secondary Schools physics curriculum is fairly
but not effectively implemented contents and allocated time given in textbook. To alleviate these
problems recommendation were forwarded. The administration bodies have to involve parents to have active participation in learning process. Parents also, have to try to help their students by
following their daily activities as much as possible. The teacher also must use teaching aids, give
frequent exercises to practice and should show the students how to do practical activities. In order
to alleviate the problem of teaching materials; teachers should give more emphasis on local
materials to show different activities.
