Kirk strictly refused to equate slow learners with mentally retarded because the former is capable of achieving a moderate degree of academic success even though at a slower rate than the average child.

• The pupils have intelligence quotient between 71 – 89. They contribute about 18 percent of the total population.
• Burt(1937) has rightly pointed out term “backward” or “slow learner” is reserved for those children who are unable to cope with the work normally expected of their age group.
• As an adult, a slow learner usually becomes self-supporting, independent and socially adjusted.
• Slow learning directly related to intellectual ability but recent studies in this regard revealed heredity is not only responsible for the backwardness of the child but environment contributed significantly to the scholastic achievement of the child.

Characteristics of Slow Learners

• Slow learners have limited cognitive capacity. They fail to cope with learning situations and to reason abstractly. Rational thinking becomes practically difficult. They have the capacity to succeed in rote-learning. These children show interest in learning where relationships are clearly demonstrated. With regard to retentive memories they require more practice and revision in comparison with normal children.
• One of the relevant characteristics of slow learners is poor memory. It occurs due to lack of concentration. It is impossible to say how much a child can learn and retain although he is motivated eternally and internally. Experimental evidences reveal that very often the dull children can recall facts about their local cricket team as well as its players.
• Classroom situation include distraction and lack of concentration of slow learners. This typical behavior is also associated with poor motivation. Again different studies also report that when the learning materials are presented through concrete situations, the slow learner's concentration and attention do not differ significantly from that of a normal child.
• The slow learners learn at a slower rate and they face difficulty in retaining what they learned.
• The slow learners prefer concrete learning to abstract learning.
• Transfer of learning becomes difficult for slow learners.
• They lack judgment and common sense and they are highly distractible.
• They gain from direct teaching and do not acquire skills incidentally.
• A slow learner is an underachiever and has a very short span of attention
• Their ability to deal with abstract and symbolic materials ( i.e. Language, Numbers and concepts is very limited and their reasoning in practical situation is inferior to that of average students.
• Research works reveal that the attention span of slow learners is relatively short. They are also unable to deal with relatively complex games or school assignment. They need much external stimulation and encouragement to do simple type of work.
• Capable of competing in school in most areas, except in strictly academic areas in which performance is below average.
• Social adjustments that is not noticeably different from the larger population.
• Although in the lower segment of adequate adjustment, occupational performance satisfactory in non-technical areas with total self-support highly probable.