School based factors influencing students’ performance in Kenya certificate of secondary examination in public Secondary schools in Kathiani Sub-county

Abstract

Learners’ academic performance is an area of great concern to all stakeholders in education worldwide. Schools in Kathiani Sub-County have recorded dismal performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in the last five years. The study sought to establish the school based factors influencing students’ performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Kathiani Sub County. The objectives of the study were; Determine the extent to which teaching resources influence students’ performance in KCSE, Examine the extent to which teacher adequacy influence students’ performance in KCSE, Assess the extent to which physical facilities influence students’ performance in KCSE and Examine the extent to which head teachers’ supervisory role influence students’ performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Kathiani Sub-County, Machakos County. The study was guided by Education Production Function Theory. The study used descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 30 head teachers and 270 Heads of departments in 30 public secondary schools in Kathiani Sub County, Machakos County. The study used Simple random sampling, stratified sampling and purposive sampling techniques in selecting a sample size of 9 head teachers and 81 heads of department from the target population. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the head teachers and heads of department. Validity of the questionnaires was ascertained by experts from the school of Education while reliability of the instruments was determined using the Cronbach alpha. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages mean and standard deviation while hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance using Pearson correlation coefficient. The study found out that teaching resource especially radios, television, computer and projectors were inadequate and that teacher inadequacy was occasioned by the fact that there were no immediate replacements made once teachers had transferred from schools. In addition, the study found out among others that library and laboratory facilities were inadequate. Lastly, the study found that, the head teachers rarely vetted teachers’ lesson notes and rarely appraised teachers. Overall the study found out that teaching resource, teacher adequacy, physical facilities and head teachers supervisory roles had positive and significant relationship with students’ performance at KCSE. The findings further found out that KCSE performance in Kathiani Sub County has been declining over the years. The study recommended among others that, the Ministry of Education should equip public secondary schools with adequate textbooks, teachers’ reference books, radios, television, computers and projectors to improve performance of students in KCSE. Similarly, the study recommended that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should recruit and post more teachers in Kathiani Sub County and should replace teachers immediately when they are transferred to address the problem of teacher inadequacy. Finally, there is need for head teachers to intensify teacher performance appraisal in order to give regular feedback to the teachers.