Secondary school learners’ understanding of Namibian boys’ underachievement and under-participation in education

To understand the manifestations of gender disparity in academic achievement between boys and girls, we conducted the Namibian boys’ underachievement in education study. In this article we present data from this study on secondary school learners’ understanding of the disparity. Using a pragmatic parallel mixed methods research design, systematic and criterion sampling techniques, we collected data by administering structured questionnaires to 4659 learners. We also conducted focus group discussions with purposefully selected learners. Some boys performed worse than girls and under-participated in education because they withdrew from learning activities, believed they could do without education, they were not interested in education, dropped out of school and did not actively participate in learning activities. Several parents undermined their sons’ educational achievement during socialization by giving them too much freedom to roam while strictly controlling the behaviour of their daughters; allowing their sons to abuse alcohol and drugs; not giving their sons responsibilities at home; not being concerned of their sons’ education, misconduct, and welfare. We have recommended that schools should establish boys’ academic intrinsic achievement motivation programmes by addressing their dysfunctional motivational attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. Such programmes should also attend to the boys’ adverse external motivational factors such as negative peer pressure and lack of supportive family and community environments.