Exploring Factors Contributing to Poverty Trap Nexus Learners' Academic Performances in Selected Nongoma Secondary Schools 

This study explored the contributory factors to poverty trap and their relationship with learners' academic performances using selected rural secondary schools in Nongoma in Zululand district of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. A qualitative method was adopted for data collection. Purposively sampling was used in selecting five (5) rural-based secondary schools in the area, while the teachers who participated in the study were selected conveniently. The findings of the study show that malnutrition, lack of basic necessary facilities, physical environment, adolescent psychology, lack of aspiration and demotivation are factors contributing to poverty trap and hampering learners' academic performances in the selected schools. The study recommends that to reduce or eradicate poverty, stakeholders should contribute their various quotas in the provision of basic infrastructures both for the school and the rural community, recruitment and empowerment of counsellors into secondary schools to help motivate learners towards viewing the world from a different perspective, improvement of the physical environment of the school and community at large, amongst others.