Abstract:
There has been incessant low academic performance in Science, Mathematics and Technology (SMT)
subjects especially among girls at form four level in Kitui Central District over the years. The aim of this
study was to investigate th
e determinants of girls’ performance in SMT subjects in public secondary
schools. Using ex
-
post
-
facto survey research design, the study population covered all the six girls’
secondary schools in the district which also represented sample schools from which
data was
collected. Semi
-
structured questionnaires and document analysis sheets were used as instruments of
data collection. The primary data collected was analysed by use of Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 17. Descriptive and infer
ential statistics were derived viz mean scores,
percentages, correlation and regression coefficients. The Chi
-
square and one way ANOVA test
statistics was used in hypothesis testing. Correlation and regression analysis were generated at 0.05 (2
-
tailed) and
0.001(2
-
tailed) significance levels. The findings from the study explained why form four girls
in Kitui County were not doing well in SMT subjects. The outcome of the study is expected to influence
policy and decision
-
making on girls’ better performance i
n the subjects. Different approaches were
recommended based on the findings to improve girls’ performance in SMT subjects.
