Common Reasons Canadian High School Students Underperform & What Parents Can Do

Top 10 Reasons High School Students Fail & How to Turn Their Grades Around

By Boluwaji Ojajuni

Two years ago, a mother came to me in tears. Her son, David, had always been bright in primary school, but now in SS1, his grades had dropped badly.

She said to me:

“Sir, I don’t understand. My boy is intelligent. He understands in class, but when results come out, it’s failure after failure. What is happening to him?”

Common Reasons Canadian High School Students Underperform & What Parents Can Do

David’s story is not unique. In fact, I have seen it in countless students. The truth is, most children are not lazy or dull—they are only missing the right habits, techniques, and guidance to succeed. Sadly, many parents only realize too late that their children are struggling. They think paying school fees is enough, but it isn’t. Academic success is a partnership between parents, teachers, mentors, and students. Common Reasons Canadian High School Students Underperform

Common Reasons Canadian High School Students Underperform & What Parents Can Do

Canadian parents often notice that their teenagers start strong in Grade 9 or 10, but by Grade 11, their grades begin to slide. This is especially worrying because these years directly affect university admission and scholarships.

The good news? Your child’s struggles can be fixed. The bad news? If you wait too long, opportunities may slip away.

Here are 10 common reasons Canadian high school students underperform and what you, as a parent, can do right now.

(👉 Adapt the 10 points with Canadian realities: provincial exams, balancing school with sports, distractions from technology, university/college admission requirements, etc.)

That’s why I wrote this article—to uncover the 10 main reasons why students struggle in high school and how you, as a parent or teacher, can help change the story.

1. Lack of Content Retention Techniques

Many students say: “I understand in class, but when the exam comes, I forget everything.”
This is not laziness—it’s a retention problem. Without learning proven techniques for storing and recalling information, students will always struggle during exams.

👉 Every child must learn how to study smart, not just hard.

2. Negative Attitude

A bad attitude is like a flat tyre—you cannot move forward until you change it. If a student keeps saying, “Math is too hard,” or “I can never pass science,” they are programming themselves for failure.

The right mindset is the foundation of success. Your attitude determines your altitude.

3. Poor Reading Culture

Some students open their books but end up sleeping. It’s not always laziness—it’s the absence of a reading culture. A consistent reading habit builds mental discipline and keeps knowledge fresh.

4. Unstable Home Environment

Let’s be real: home affects school.
If a child grows up in an environment filled with quarrels, neglect, or distractions, it will reflect in their academics. A settled home makes a settled learner. Parents play a bigger role than they sometimes realize.

5. Lack of Study Habits

Studying is a skill and a science. Without discipline, focus, and proper study habits, a student can spend hours with a book and still not learn anything meaningful.

6. Wrong Friends

Show me your child’s friends, and I’ll show you their future.

The Bible says: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Cor. 15:33).
If your child is an “A” student but spends all their time with unserious friends, sooner or later their performance will drop. On the other hand, a struggling student who walks with achievers will rise.

👉 That’s why it matters who your child spends the most time with.

7. Poor Revision Techniques

Reading, studying, and revising are three different things. Revision is the ability to organize your knowledge, review systematically, and prepare strategically. Without this, students remain scattered and confused when exams come.

8. Lack of Parental Support

Some parents think their only duty is to pay school fees. But children need more than money—they need interest, encouragement, and monitoring.

Do you know your child’s class teacher’s name? Do you check their notes? Do you follow up on assignments?
When parents and teachers work hand in hand, a child’s success is multiplied.

9. Sitting Position in Class

Students who are struggling should sit in front. This reduces distractions and increases alertness. Sitting at the back may be comfortable, but for weak learners, it often leads to missed lessons, jokes, and sleeping in class.

Remember: If nothing changes, nothing changes.

10. No Personal Timetable

Without a timetable, most students just “read when they feel like it.” But feelings don’t produce excellence—structure does.

A personal timetable gives direction and balance to study life. It’s the air traffic controller of academic success.

So, What Next?

If your child is struggling, it’s not the end of the road. With the right mentorship, strategies, and accountability, every student can improve and excel. I have seen it happen with countless learners.

My academic mentorship program focuses on:

✅ Content retention techniques
✅ Proven study habits
✅ Effective revision strategies
✅ Building strong reading culture
✅ Motivation and mindset shift
✅ Parent–teacher partnership

💡 Dear Parent/Teacher, Here’s My Advice

Success doesn’t happen by accident. It is built through discipline, structured learning, and mentorship.

📞 Connect with me today on WhatsApp +2348102326329 for virtual one-on-one tutoring and mentorship tailored to your child’s needs and grads.

Final Word

Every child is gifted, but they need the right guidance to shine. Let’s stop labeling children as “lazy” or “dull.” Instead, let’s give them the tools, structure, and support they need.

Let’s raise a generation of students who are confident, disciplined, and successful.

— Boluwaji Ojajuni

The Passionate Teacher With Legacy