“I Wash My Hands”: Hungarian Teachers’ Views on the Causes of School Failure

Abstract

The aim of the research is to explore what Hungarian primary school teachers (N = 224, 98% females) perceive as the reasons for school failure, and how different perceptions are related to length of time in the profession. The study used the Teachers’ Perceptions of Causes of School Failure Questionnaire. An exploratory factor analysis was used to identify 8 dimensions of early school failure, these can be grouped into two components: (1) student characteristics and socio-economic environment, (2) school. A K-Mean cluster analysis was conducted to explore patterns of teacher perceptions. Based on the results, teachers see students’ and parents’ characteristics as the main causes of school failure, and less so the characteristics of the family background and the teachers’ competence and motivation. The results of cluster analysis reveal two groups of teachers: they consider (1) both dimensions important, (2) the role of the school less important, placing the responsibility on factors over which they have little direct influence. In the latter group, older teachers are significantly over-represented. The results confirm the findings of research abroad.