Academic Decline of Seventh and Tenth Grade Students from Teachers’ Perspective: A Grounded Theory Study

The aim of the present study was to compare the causes of academic decline among students of grade 7 and 10 in Neyriz County from teachers’ perspective. The study was of qualitative nature. The population of the study consisted of all teachers of grade 7 and 10 who totaled to 600 people. Out of this number, 13 teachers of grade 7 and 17 teachers of grade 10 were recruited through snowball sampling  to form the study sample. To collect the data in-depth interviews were conducted. Data analysis was accomplished through grounded theory by doing open, axial, and selective coding. Results demonstrated that reason originating from family, instruction and individual themselves caused academic decline. Educational factors in addition to peers and friends provide the ground for the negative outcomes. Treatment styles, too, may bring about decline as an intervening variable entailing other individual and social repercussions. Thus, provision of appropriate amenities and conditions in teaching-learning situations can be considered as a strategy to cope with academic decline.