The Impact of Grade Retention THE IMPACT OF GRADE RETENTION ON THE SELF-ESTEEM AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE STUDENTS BUSHRA IQBAL CHOHAN Department of Education, Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi 1 The Impact of Grade Retention October,2011 THE IMPACT OF GRADE RETENTION ON THE SELF-ESTEEM AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE STUDENTS BUSHRA IQBAL CHOHAN Submitted in Partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education with Specialization in Primary Education at the Department of Education, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi Department of Education Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi October, 2011 2 The Impact of Grade Retention FORWARDING SHEET The thesis entitled „The Impact of Grade Retention on the Self-Esteem and Academic Performance of the Students‟ submitted by Bushra Iqbal Chohan in partial fulfillment of the requirement of PhD Degree in Education has been completed under our guidance and supervision. We are satisfied with the quality of her research work. __________________________ ____________________________ Prof. Dr. Samina Amin Qadir Prof Dr. Rehana Masrur Khan Supervisor Supervisor Dated: __________________ 3 The Impact of Grade Retention DECLARATION I Bushra Iqbal Chohan daughter of Professor (retd) Javed Iqbal Chohan registered as Student of PhD at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi do hereby solemnly declare that the thesis entitled „The Impact of Grade Retention on the Self-Esteem and Academic Performance of the Students‟ submitted by me in partial fulfillment of the requirement of PhD Degree in Education is my original work, except where otherwise acknowledged in the text and has not been submitted or published earlier and shall not in future, be submitted by me for obtaining any degree from this or any other university or institution. Dated:__________________ _______________________ (Bushra Iqbal Chohan) 4 The Impact of Grade Retention ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Praise be to Allah Almighty, who, in His infinite wisdom and benevolence, enabled me to undertake and complete this task despite my weaknesses and personal limitations. This study is carried out in the kind co-supervision of Prof. Dr. Samina Amin Qadir and Prof. Dr. Rehana Masrur. I am highly indebted to both honorable supervisors for their ever-available guidance and support. It was their helpful, supportive and motivational attitude which made the completion of this study possible. I would like to pay my special thanks and gratitude to Prof. Dr. Samina Amin Qadir, for her valuable mentoring throughout the period at Fatima Jinnah University Rawalpindi. Her continuous encouragement during my study period has enabled me to accomplish this task successfully. Her tremendous support while finding an appropriate topic for doctoral study and reminding me to plough through the hard times to get to the end of my thesis writing has been valued greatly. She first encouraged my topic of interest for this study and continued to support me in terms of proposal writing, selecting the study sample, engaging in field research and finally in thesis writing. I have enjoyed our endless conversations on this topic and have valued and appreciated all her helpful comments and insights into my thesis through her meticulous examination of facts, comments, painstaking corrections, suggestions and constructive criticism. I am truly honored to have had her as my thesis advisor. 5 The Impact of Grade Retention I am tremendously appreciative of the expertise of Prof. Dr. Rehana Masrur in the field of educational research. Her valuable guidance throughout the research period has a great contribution in the successful completion of this study. Her intellectual capacity in educational research, grip on analytical techniques and understanding of research tools has been of great value for me during the whole period starting from proposal writing till the completion of this thesis. I also appreciate the helpful suggestions and comments of my respectful teacher Associate Prof. Dr. Mussarat Anwar Sheikh (Chairperson, Department of Education) throughout my years at Fatima Jinnah University Rawalpindi. Her insight and expertise in different areas of Education has made a valuable contribution in this study. I am very grateful to the children, and the teachers, who enthusiastically participated in the study. I will never forget their welcoming attitude and full co-operation during every visit to their schools. Being an awardee of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Indigenous 5000 Scholarship, I am also highly indebted to HEC, for its valuable supportive role, which contributed a tremendous share in the successful completion of this study. I regard it a great honor to express my deep sense of gratitude to my learned father, Assistant Professor of Education (retd) Javed Iqbal Chohan, for his constant prayers and encouragement throughout the study period. I take the privilege to pay my special gratitude to my mother whose continuous prayers and moral support has made this study happened. 6 The Impact of Grade Retention My special thanks to my husband, Mr. Muhammad Idrees, who believed in my abilities, shared my vision and supported me wherever he could by taking the extra tasks that needed to be done. Special thanks to Mr. Zakaullah Khan, Chief Librarian, Academy of Educational Planning and Management, who provided me with valuable data and material and also gave me opportunity for regular study in library. I owe my special thanks to support network of friends on whom I relied during my field research and the writing of this thesis. I have really appreciated their conversations and comment related to my study. Last but not least, I must mention the role of rest of my family including my brother Muddasir and sisters Ayesha and Saadia, who provided me all necessary support and encouragement. Finally I am greatly thankful to my dearest son Muhammad Zaighum, whose love helped me to discover my topic, and my innocent loving daughters Ishba, Tehreem and Nimra, for their patience, and grudging sacrifice of maternal love and care during these arduous days. 7 The Impact of Grade Retention TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………...ix List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………….....x List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………...xii List of Appendices……………………………………………………………………….xiii Chapter One INTRODUCTION TO STUDY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1- 30 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Grade Retention: An Overview 1 1.2.1 Grade Retention and Primary Education System in Pakistan 7 1.2.1.1 The Basic Structure of Primary Education System 8 1.2.1.2 Major Providers of Primary Education 9 1.2.2 Grade Retention and Education Policies in Pakistan 11 1.2.3 Grade Retention and Development Plans in Pakistan 14 1.2.4 Contemporary Promotion Policy in Punjab 15 1.3 Statement of the Problem 20 1.4 Objectives of the Study 21 1.5 The Research Hypotheses 21 1.6 The Research Questions 22 1.7 Significance of the Study 23 1.8 Definitions of the Terms used 24 1.9 The Delimitations of the Study 25 1.10 The Research Design 26 1.11 An Overview of the Remaining Thesis Chapters 28 1.12 Summary of the Findings 29 8 The Impact of Grade Retention Chapter Two THE LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 31-93 2.1 Introduction 31 2.2 Pedagogical Significance of Grade Retention 31 2.2.1 Factors contributing to Grade Retention 36 2.2.1.1 Student related Factors 38 2.2.1.1.1 Demographic Characteristics ...................................................................................... 38 2.2.1.1.2 Absenteeism ................................................................................................................ 39 2.2.1.1.3 Frequent shifting from one School to another ............................................................ 40 2.2.1.1.3 Personal Weaknesses ................................................................................................... 40 2.2.1.1.4 Child Labor ................................................................................................................... 41 2.2.1.2 School related Factors 41 2.2.1.2.1 Teacher ........................................................................................................................ 42 2.2.1.2.2 Administration ............................................................................................................. 43 2.2.1.2.3 Public vs Private Schools .............................................................................................. 44 2.2.1.2.4 School Facilities ............................................................................................................ 44 2.2.1.2.5 Curriculum and Textbooks ........................................................................................... 45 2.2.1.2.6 Method of Examinations .............................................................................................. 45 2.2.1.2.7 Student-teacher Ratio .................................................................................................. 46 2.2.1.2.8 Language of Instruction ............................................................................................... 46 2.2.1.2.9 Corporal Punishment ................................................................................................... 47 2.2.1.3 Family related Factors 48 2.2.1.3.1 Socioeconomic Background ........................................................................................