Academic success depends on a variety of factors such as the quality of teachers, textbooks, the ability and effort of students etc. to name just a few. Students have to be smart and hard- working in order to achieve academic success.

But what would happen if middle school students are reluctant to study? Students who are not at all motivated to study just put the bare minimum effort to pass the examinations. Many such reluctant students are indifferent towards studies, they do not value hard work and academic success much.

The real essence of academic success should ideally be aimed at motivating the less-motivated and unmotivated students, instilling in them a desire to learn and achieve in academics.

A few strategies can be followed to increase the motivation-level of students who are unmindful of studies. Some of them are the following:-

1.Incentives

Students should work according to their capabilities. Most of the schools reward only the top scorers and those who are average and below average are not recognized much by the teachers in schools. The efforts of the high performers are noticed and appreciated, but those students who cannot figure in the top list most often go unnoticed. With this kind of a practice a gulf gets formed between the high-performers and the low-performers. This should be avoided if academic success is to be achieved. The moderate learners and poor learners should get timely incentives which would boost their confidence in themselves and it would ensure a better academic scene later.

2.School Policies

Sometimes school policies work against the favor of students. It should not be the case in the academia. Every student has a different level of IQ and the policies of education should be regularly reframed to fit in all students comfortably well within the framework. Policies should be student-friendly, not hostile to students. The education policies should make the learning process easy for students and they should boost the academic progress as well.

3. Peer Pressure Should be Avoided

Peer pressure is a major criterion which influences the learning process of school students. Peer pressure is healthy if it is minimal and if it does not harm the sensitive feelings of students. It will create a competitive spirit in students and they would strive to achieve more in academics given the right kind of boost from their fellow students. The pressure should not exceed a limit and prove damaging to the intellectual development of school students.

Some teachers tend to give additional work to the average or poor performers and thereby make them overburdened. This practice would affect those marginal students badly and there would be a rift between the effort and achievement. It is a detrimental practice which should not be entertained at all by any means. Instead, teachers should reward the poor performers and boost their motivation and make them study better.

Positive reinforcement enhances great learning, a slight incentive from the teachers would do wonders in students’ lives. Every student is a god-gifted child and teachers should respect their individual levels and methods of learning for a healthy academic atmosphere.

– guest post by Ebin Mathew