Exploring Grade 10 learners''behaviourial attitudes towards History

Abstract

This study aims to explore the behavioural attitudes of Grade 10 learners in three secondary schools in Maseru. The participants were identified using purposive sampling based on a strategy in which specific people are deliberately chosen to give necessary information that cannot be obtained from other choices. The study’s targeted population were twelve Grade10 learners from three different secondary schools of whom five were males and seven females. The study employed qualitative research approach, case study design, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to generate data. Data was generated using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions which were both recorded and transcribed manually. The results from both semi-structured and focus group discussions revealed the most significant factors which influence the learners’ behavioural attitudes towards History. These included the improper teaching strategies that are used by History teachers, lack of instructional materials, unqualified History teachers and peer pressure influence, among others. Therefore, the study recommends that attempts should be made by the Lesotho curriculum designers and planners in order to ensure accessibility of resources in secondary schools so that learners do not struggle with scarce learning materials like textbooks, computers and libraries. Furthermore, the study recommends that schools should be supplied with a large number of qualified teachers and sufficient instructional materials in order to make History more interesting. Future researches should be done in many secondary schools to explore the similar issue to the current study and to do action researches aiming at bringing solutions in the classrooms in order to make History subject more interesting to all History learners.