This study investigated perceptions of teachers and school management on factors influencing poor academic performance of Form 'E' students at Maryland High School in Lesotho. After realizing that the poor academic performance by Form 'E' students was a national crisis, the study aimed to examine factors that influenced poor academic of Form 'E' students. This study adopted a qualitative method through which data was collected from the principal, deputy principal, heads of department and teachers. A qualitative design used interviews, observation and document analysis to collect data for the research. The research findings disclosed that teachers and management perceived that the following factors influence poor academic performance of Form 'E' students at Maryland High School:1. Leadership of Maryland High School is very poor. 2. The running of the school without clearly written or documented policies. 3. The control of the school funds by the chairperson of the School Board instead of the principal. 4. Absence of a library and poorly equipped science laboratory. 5. Teachers are not motivated due to lack of some teaching and learning materials. 6. Heads of department are not involved when decisions pertinent to management are made. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

This study sought to investigate factors that enable high pass rates at Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (C.O.S.C.) level at Botha-Bothe High School in Lesotho. The focus of the study has been on three broad possible factors, namely the nature of leadership within the institution, the relationships between administration and teachers, amongst the teachers and between the teachers and learners, as well as resources available in the school. The study used a triangulation of three instruments: interviewing, observation and document analysis to collect data. These three instruments helped the researcher to collect proof-checked information and arrive at concretized conclusions. The Principal, Deputy-Principal, HODs and teachers who participated in interviews, handed to the researcher the necessary documents and took the researcher around to different teaching centres. Having investigated and correlated all the results, the researcher concluded that the following are possible factors that could improve pass rates. The first factor is a sound leadership that allows interaction, that manages time, that motivates other stakeholders, and that includes its subordinates in decision-making. The second factor is warm relationships between management and staff, amongst the academic staff and between teachers and students. The third factor is the availability and good management of resources (human and material). / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.