Effects of Family Background on Poor Academic Performance of Grade 12 Learners.

Abstract

This paper aims to describe the effects of family background on poor academic performance of Grade 12 Learners. Based on the literature reviewed, theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu cultural reproduction theory, the study’s findings concluded that socio-economic status of parents/guardians has an impact on the academic performance of Grade 12 learners. With parents from low socio-economic background, the Butterworth community is also not able to supplement these insufficient instructional resources. The study adopted the mixed method approach to obtain data from teachers, parents, and grade 12 learners. This study utilized the cultural reproduction theory of Bourdieu (1977) to explore a system of education in industrialized communities and the way it works to illuminate class differences in academic performance and achievement of Grade 12 learners. The study recommend that department of education should prioritise schools of the lower-class when it comes to teaching and learning resources, school libraries, information literacy should be provided as well as technological recourses in schools of the lower-class.