Publication: Investigating factors contributing to poor Performance in physics in KCSE by students in Secondary schools of Kathonzweni District; Makueni County
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2015-03
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
Performance in Physics by students has persistently been poor. This study sought to investigate the
factors contributing to the poor performance and to establish the strategies that can be adopted to
improve performance in Physics by students in secondary schools in Makueni County in Kenya.
The study determined the school based factors that affect students’ performance in Physics in
secondary schools, socio-cultural factors that affect them and their personal factors that affect
performance in Physics, and established the strategies that can be adopted to improve performance
in Physics. Descriptive survey research design will be adopted for the study. The study was carried
out in four selected secondary schools of Kathonzweni District which has a total of 14 secondary
schools. The target population was 96 respondents which comprised of 80 secondary school Physics
students, 4 head of Science Department, 8 Physics teachers and 4 head teachers. The population was
sampled using the stratified sampling technique so that all categories of schools will be included in
the study and then proportionately sampled. The data for the research was collected by use of three
questionnaires; student, teachers and head teachers questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed
using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (S.P.S.S) and then presented in form of frequency
tables and percentages. It was anticipated that the findings of this study will give curriculum
developers new insights into emerging issues on performance and influence the Ministry of
Education on policy formulation. Students were also expected to benefit from the findings; because
improved Physics performance will give them opportunities to pursue science related courses in
higher institutions of learning and middle level colleges.
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