The main purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons why many Area Secondary students are not sitting for any SEC examinations at the end of their formal education and to what extent this was influenced by teachers, parents and peers. Furthermore, it was aimed at investigating the provision undertaken by the Senior Management Team in these schools regarding MATSEC examinations.

The study included Form 5 students, teachers and administrators. The samples were as follows: (i) 351 Form 5 Area Secondary students of the 1986 cohort (140 boys & 211 girls), (ii) 101 Form 5 Area Secondary teachers (47 teaching girls & 52 teaching boys) and (iii) 26 Area Secondary School administrators. With all three samples, the research tool used was a questionnaire.

The results of this study show that many students choose not to sit for any SEC examinations because of a low self-esteem. It is indicated that many Area Secondary students are sure that they will not pass because they have not passed any examinations before. Family attitudes also contribute towards students registering or not for these examinations while peer pressure does not play a significant role in the students' choice.

Results also indicate that both teachers and administrators prepare their students to sit for these examinations.

A number of recommendations towards Area Secondary administrators and teachers are suggested in order to increase the number of Area Secondary students to sit for SEC examinations. Recommendations to the MATSEC Examination Board are also suggested in order to make Paper IIB more relevant for Area Secondary students.

Keywords

SEC examinations, Area Secondary Schools, Form 5 students, Teachers' views on SEC examinations, Senior Management Team's views on SEC Examinations.

Supervisor:
Dr. Grace Grima Dip. Educ. (Adm. & Man.)
B. Ed. (Hons.), M. Ed. (Otago), Ph. D. (Otago).May 2003