Analysis of the relationship between teacher characteristics and learner performance in english reading in Namibia

Abstract

This mini thesis investigates the relationship between teacher characteristics and learner performance in English reading in Namibia. The level of performance in national examinations is often linked to the level of English proficiency of learners. To address my research questions about the impact of selected teacher characteristics on learner performance in English reading in Namibia, I used descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses in my inquiry. These analyses allow me to measure the multivariate relationship of more than one independent variable to one dependent variable. The leaners studies were a sample of Grade 6 learners and their teachers who were in schools in Namibia in 1995. Measures of the learners were age, gender, number of books in the home, parent education, repetition etc. Measures of the teacher characteristics were age, gender, qualifications and experience. The results of the study show that teacher characteristics have an influence, negative or positive, on learner performance. However, teacher training came out to be a strong influential variable to learner performance in English language reading in Namibia.