http://www.hrpub.org Universal Journal of Educational Research 8(11B): 5934-5942, 2020 DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.082228 Influence of Cleanliness on Learners Learning Capabilities and Academic Performances: A South African Perspective Chinaza Uleanya Department of Educational Management and Leadership, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Received August 18, 2020; Revised September 23, 2020; Accepted October 19, 2020 Cite This Paper in the following Citation Styles (a): [1] Chinaza Uleanya , "Influence of Cleanliness on Learners Learning Capabilities and Academic Performances: A South African Perspective," Universal Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 8, No. 11B, pp. 5934 - 5942, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.082228. (b): Chinaza Uleanya (2020). Influence of Cleanliness on Learners Learning Capabilities and Academic Performances: A South African Perspective. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(11B), 5934 - 5942. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.082228. Copyright©2020 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract Cleanliness which promotes good health in learners in schools has become paramount considering the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and its adverse effects on learners learning abilities and success. Also, cleanliness seems to have a link with security. Hence, the study explored the connection between cleanliness, security and the learning abilities of learners. In other words, attempt was made to investigate the relationship that exists between cleanliness in classroom, school environment, learners’ habit and their academic performances. Qualitative method was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling was used to select three rural and three urban schools in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Meanwhile, convenience sampling was used to select six educators who participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were employed for data collection. The findings of the study suggest firstly that there is a link between security and cleanliness, and such is the reason why most urban high schools experience more cleanliness than their counterparts in rural communities. Secondly, cleanliness is a contributory factor which enhances the learning abilities of learners. Cleanliness which is upheld more in urban high schools compared to rural based high schools contributes towards boosting teaching and learning activities as well as the academic performances of learners. The paper therefore recommends amongst others that better security should be considered in and for rural based high schools. Cleanliness should be treated with esteem in high schools and at all levels. Also, learners should be taught personal hygiene as one of the co-curricular subjects. Keywords Cleanliness, Learners’ Academic Performances, Learners’ Learning Abilities, Rural High Schools, Urban High Schools 1. Introduction Learning remains a major constraint for learners in different parts of the environment, especially in rural societies [1, 2,3,4,5]. Various factors have been explored on the causes of learners’ challenges with regards to their learning abilities. For instance, [2] emphasise that the issue of quality in the provided education is a major constraint affecting the learning capabilities of learners. From a review of the work of [6], it can be deduced that unrest can be a major factor affecting the learning abilities of learners. According to [7], the issue of leadership is to explored as they opine that the place of the principals of schools cannot be overemphasised. Also, classroom management of educators, especially female educators is explored as a factor which can hamper or promote the learning abilities of learners [8]. According to [9], the perceptions of subject advisers as well as school management team members have the potential to hamper