Abstract

Students' low academic motivation is primarily due to a lack of passion to learn. The majority
of secondary school students lack motivation, desire, and engagement in their studies. This
study explored why young people lack academic motivation to pursue higher education. A
phenomenological interpretive method has been employed to better understand student
motivation for higher education. Data is collected from Dilla City Secondary School using
smartphones, and themes are analyzed using QDA Miner Lite. Findings revealed that (3%),
rewards (8%), both obtaining a higher education and enhancing self-esteem (8.9%), and a
lack of motivation in studying (31.3%) Furthermore, participants claimed that the absence of
a book on academic subjects demotivated children to learn. Thus, principals and teachers
need to change roles to address student motivation.