AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC MOTIVATION: THE CASE OF BURJI WOREDA PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting students’ academic motivation in BurjiWoreda primary schools. To this end, a descriptive- survey research design with mixed methodwas employed.A total of 283 sample respondents were used as primary source of data.For this, both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used.In this study questionnaire, interview and FGD were used. Questionnaire having open and closedended questions were prepared by the researcher and used to collect data from teachers and students separately. Likert scale questionnaires having five alternatives were adapted and its reliability in the study area was checked bypilot test. Interview was used for education office leader and professionals, school principals and PTA members and FGD was conducted in all schools with students.After collecting data, quantitative data was analyzed by using SPSS version-20 to determine frequency, percentage, mean, t-test andPearson correlation and qualitative data were interpreted and narrated. The data analysis led to the following major findings: the most factors affecting students’ academic motivation in the area are: home environment, school environment, teacher and peer related factors.Concerning gender difference, female students are more demotivated than their male counterparts. Regarding effect of students’ lack of academic motivation on teachers’ classroom management strategy, it highly challenges the effectiveness of teachers’ teaching-learning activity and leads teachers to ineffective implementation of annual, semester and daily lesson plans. The study concluded that the findings justified factors affecting students’ academic motivation andstrengtheningschool- community relationship, providingtraining opportunity for uncertified teachers, collaborative working among the school stake holders and others were recommended.