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The Causative factors of failure among undergraduate Malaysian students in Al-Azhar University: a qualitative case study

Abd Razak Al-Hafiz, Afareez and Razikin, Mohyani and Abdul Rahman, Nik Suryani and Sheikh Ahmad, Ismail (2010) The Causative factors of failure among undergraduate Malaysian students in Al-Azhar University: a qualitative case study. In: 10th Annual IBER & TLC Conference 2010, 11-13 October 2010, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, USA.

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Abstract

Purpose: A worrying number of Malaysian undergraduate students are failing in Al-Azhar University annually. This qualitative case study looks into the reasons behind why a large number of Malaysian students fail. It is to understand and add to our knowledge of the reasons of why this phenomenon is occurring. The study aims to identify what seem to be the contributing factors which cause the Malaysian students to fail in their examinations; based on previous literature, what would be the consequences of not having adequate mastery of Arabic language while studying in a particular setting; and in what could the factors contributing to failure be overcome or minimized. Methods: Four informants were identified as data-rich consisting of two high ranking officers from the Malaysian Student Department in Cairo (MSD-Cairo) and two Malaysian students studying in Al-Azhar University. Hence, the data gathered provided insights from both perspectives – from educational administrators’ and students’ point of view – in order to understand the phenomena studied in a more comprehensive manner. The chosen sample was considered as to get multiple realities of the phenomena, and this type of the sampling was considered an adequate representation of the experiences concerned. Even though the number was limited, the information gathered were be more than sufficient as the informants were interviewed and probed with open-ended questions. All four interviews were conducted face to face at different times, and were audio-recorded. Results: The findings revealed contributing factors to the students’ failure are due to the negative attitude of students themselves towards their studies; the students being not proficient in specifically the language of the medium of instruction which is Arabic; the nature of the university’s educational system which needs improvement to cater to the issue at hand; and the students’ financial stability and in need of financial support. Suggestions were also extracted from this study to help assist in overcoming or at least help in minimizing the intensity of the factors contributing to failure.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Academic under achievement, students‟ failure, factors contributing to failure, qualitative case study
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
L Education > LC Special aspects of education > LC65 Social aspects of education
L Education > LG Individual institutions (Asia. Africa)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): Kulliyyah of Education
Depositing User: Saabihah Mohamed Salleh
Date Deposited: 14 Feb 2012 16:48
Last Modified: 13 Jul 2021 15:13
URI: http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/19048

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