| When a child loses one or both parents,he or she becomes an orphan.If the individual concerned is still a child when this happens,he or she is often faced with multiple challenges as the people who provided for and cared for them are no more.In addition,vulnerable children are seen as children who need attention and safety.Furthermore,vulnerable children are regarded as children who require special care and protection.Children with disabilities or learning difficulties,the neglected and abused,HIV-positive children,marginalized children,and other vulnerable children are all examples of vulnerable children.Orphaned and vulnerable children(OVC)are faced with the challenge of adjusting to life without their parents,which often creates numerous problems for the child.According to Magampa(2014),the loss of parents can lead to psychological problems that include stress,low self-esteem,anxiety,and depression.These issues may lead to a lack of concentration at school,resulting in poor academic performance.It is against this background that this study aimed to identify the factors influencing the academic performance of orphans and vulnerable children in the Oshikuku Circuit and Omusati Region of Namibia.The purpose of this study was to explore and find out what challenges are faced by the orphans and vulnerable children in their daily lives and how they can affect their academic performance.The researcher used the qualitative research method,and the data was collected using an interview guide for teachers and questionnaires for learners.This study used six public schools from the population of 18 public schools in the Oshikuku circuit.Two Primary Schools(PS),two Combined Schools(CS),one Junior Secondary School(JSS)and one Senior Secondary School(SSS)were selected for this study.Twenty-four teachers(4 from each selected school)teaching from grades 4 to 12 and 60learners(10 from each selected school)participated in the study.The findings of this study revealed that learners in both Oshikuku circuit schools in the sample faced common challenges such as hunger,household responsibilities,lack of time to study,insults and bad words from family members and teachers,scarcity of learning materials and other basic necessities,other people’s teasing,an incomplete school uniform,discrimination and inequitable treatment,and personal feelings of the learners towards their deceased parents.It is important that the Ministry of Education,Arts,and Culture(Mo EAC),schools,principals,teachers,and parents,guardians,and caretakers take the findings of this study into consideration and implement the proposed strategies that would contribute to the effectiveness and better academic performances of the OVC. |
