Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting academic Performance
of ‘A’ Level students in drama in Literature in English and to develop a strategy for
improving students’ academic performance in Tsholotsho District. The objective of
this study was to; find out factors affecting Academic Performance of ‘A’ Level
students in drama in Literature in English and to find out mitigatory measures that
will improve the performance of ‘A’ Level students in drama in Literature in English
in Tsholotsho District. Many teachers ineffectively teach drama. There are many
factors that students face in the learning of drama. The Zimbabwe School
Examinations Council report of 2015 highlighted that students’ performance in drama
is unsatisfactory. Some Literature in English students opt to answer questions on
prose and prose leaving out drama questions. Therefore, this research aims at
investigating the factors affecting academic performance of ‘A’ Level students in
drama in Literature in English. A qualitative research paradigm was used in this
study. A case study design was used in conducting this research which targeted a total
population of eighteen students. From the ten high schools, three schools were used as
a sample. These schools were sampled using convenience sampling. One Literature in
English teacher who teaches upper six from each school was sampled using purposive
sampling. Eighteen upper six students from the three schools were purposively
selected. Individual interview guides were for teachers and focus group discussions
were for students. The results revealed that learner, home, school and teacher based
factors affect academic performance in drama. It was recommended that parents
should buy relevant resources which will enable their children to have sufficient
material to study at home and appreciate that children need to have a powerful
enabling environment for them to learn and improve themselves. It was recommended
that school heads should ensure that educators identify underperforming students,
monitor the utilisation of their study time, and assist in resolving problems regarding
the poor performance of such individual students and groups at school, because they
do not get assistance at home. It was also recommended that in order to bring
development to the family, community, society and country at large, as well as
parents should be sensitized to invest in education. This is the most effective way to
stimulate productivity and eliminate ignorance, poverty, hunger, and diseases in the
society
