Teaching and learning resources as a predictor variable determining students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Mbooni west sub county, Makueni , Kenya: an investigation of the involvement of the principal

Abstract

Students’ academic Performance in institutions of learning features prominently in the global education agenda. Educational managers and teachers focuss on use of learning resources to provide quality education. Students’ performance in national examination has declined in Mbooni west Sub County hence the need for an enquiry. This study investigated the influence of Principals’ involvement in provision of teaching and learning resources on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County, Makueni County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to; Assess the types and adequacy of teaching and learning resources and to determine the influence of Principals’ involvement in provision of teaching and learning resources on students’ academic performance in Mbooni West Sub County, Makueni County. The hypothesis for the study was; There is no statistically significant relationship between principals’ involvement in provision of teaching and learning resources and students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County, Makueni County, Kenya. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population was all principals and teachers in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County. The study employed stratified sampling technique and random sampling for teachers and census sampling for principals to select 90 teachers and 40 principals. Data was collected using questionnaires. Validity of the research instruments was ascertained through piloting of the test items while reliability of the questionnaires was ascertained by a test-re-test technique. Data was analyzed using SPSS and presented in frequency distribution tables, percentages. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between principals’ involvement in provision of teaching and learning resources and students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County, Makueni County. The study established that teaching and learning resources were adequate in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County. The study also revealed that there was statistically significant relationship between principals’ involvement in provision of teaching and students academic in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County, Makueni County at (r) value of 0.834 while (p) value was 0.002.The study concluded that Principals’ involvement in provision of teaching and learning resources influenced students acdemic performance in public secondary schools in Mbooni West Sub County, Makueni County. The study recommended that principals should provide diverse teaching and learning resources to improve and sustained students’ academic performance in schools.