DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2015.v03i07.017

Pages: 1251-1255

This study assessed the factors that largely contribute towards high failure rate of Grade Seven pupils in the general paper subject in Chipinge Central Constituency. The population comprised of all the 194 primary school teachers from the thirteen primary schools in the constituency. The sample was made up of 5 randomly selected teachers from Grade 4 to 7 within each school making a total of 65 respondents from the thirteen schools. The study adopted the quantitative methodology and the descriptive survey design was used. The questionnaire was the only instrument used to gather data. The main findings of the study revealed that teachers were not competent to handle various topics in the subject. The study also revealed that the time allocated for general paper was very inadequate for teachers to complete the syllabus before pupils sit for their examinations. The study recommends inter-alia, that teachers should be staff developed on the best methods of teaching general paper. More time should be allocated towards the teaching of general paper in order to enable teachers to cover the long syllabus before pupils embark on the examinations.