ABSTRACT
Background: In spite of having average or above average intelligence, emergence of poor academic performance can be catastrophic, both to the children and their families. Aim: To find out the etiological factors behind the scholastic backwardness which are prevailing in different sexes and in different socio-economic background of the children attending normal school. Method: 125 children of both sexes in the age range of 12 to 16 years were taken for this study. They were brought to rule out the suspected causes of mental retardation. Assessment were done on the measures of the class teacher rating on the functioning of the child in the school including general activity in the class, relationship with students and teachers, academic functioning, play and extracurricular activities. Qualitative analysis of the data was done. Results: Result revealed that intelligence is not the single criteria that determine the academic performance of students. Several cognitive and non – cognitive factors which are found within the child and outside of the child i.e. family, school and society are solely responsible to determine the scholastic performance of the students.