Social Challenges and Learners' Academic Performance: A Case of Selected Primary Schools in Lusaka District, Zambia.

Social issues, also called social problem, a state of affairs that negatively affects the personal or social lives of individuals or the well-being of communities or larger groups within a society and about which there is usually public disagreement as to its nature, causes, or solution. Social challenges are common problems in present-day society and one that many people strive to solve. Social challenges are those conditions or behaviors that have negative consequences at the personal and work level. In addition, social challenges are issues and problems facing human beings today. Hence, the study aimed at examining the effects of social challenges on learners’ academic performance in some selected primary schools of Lusaka district, Zambia. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: (a) To identify the common types of social challenges exhibited by learners in selected primary schools of Lusaka district, (b) To examine the effects of social challenges on learners’ academic performance in selected primary schools of Lusaka district and (c) To offer recommendations on how best social challenges can be dealt with in selected primary schools of Lusaka district. Purposive sampling of the site was preferred to select the research area from which respondents participated in this study with a sample size of 140. The study employed both the qualitative and quantitative methods that sampled head teachers, primary teachers, pupils and community members. Interview guides were used to obtain qualitative data which was analyzed using thematic analysis while quantitative data were collected using questionnaires which were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found out that, most exhibited social challenges in primary schools were; peer pressure, drug abuse, child abuse, economic background and media influence. The study therefore recommended that teachers should pay special attention and identify different types of social problems among their leaners. Also, the study suggested that leaners should be sensitized fully on how to protect themselves from social challenges, more specifically from issues of child abuse.