Underachievement in schools : an ecosystemic approach

Abstract

Over the years, extensive research has been conducted in the field of underachievement. Many solutions to the problem have been put forward, none of these proposals universally addressing the problem. The present research's aim was to address the problem of underachievement ecosystemically. For this pu~ose, through the process of a series of interviews, information was gathered about the underachieving behaviour of a particula~pc"a'nd his interaction with his teachers and his parents in connection with his behaviour. It was found that the underachieving behaviour could be described as part of a larger interactive pattern, characterised by compliant/noncompliant behaviour on the part of the pupil, and involved/non-involved behaviour on the part of the teachers and parents.