The Impending Crisis: The Case of the Transition to the Secondary School.

Abstract

This study set out to investigate and analyze the perceptions of Seventh Graders towards their transition to the secondary school. Precisely, Grade 7 pupils were asked to appraise the transition from primary to secondary school with a view to assisting these pupils have a smooth transition to the secondary school. Thus, the focus and therefore interest was on understanding what Grade 7 pupils think and feel about moving on to the secondary school. The study involved 120 (N=120) Grade 7 pupils drawn from Harare urban schools. A questionnaire and follow-up interviews were the instruments used to collect data. Results were reported using percentages. The observations in this study were that most Grade 7 pupils perceive the transition to secondary school with fear and anxiety. Many pupils reported feeling sad as the time for the transition to secondary school approached. Thus, Grade 7 pupils' perceptions of the transition was predominantly negative. The uncertainty of what goes on in the new environment and the often much talked about 'difficult subjects' were among the main causes for concern for many of them.