Factors affecting performance in physics among students in public secondary schools in Kiambu sub-county

Abstract

The importance of physics as a basis for technology is obvious although the number of students taking physics as their performance in secondary school is declining. This study sought to determine the factors influencing the performance of physics in public secondary schools in Kiambu Sub County. The study was guided by the following objectives: i) To determine the student factors that influence performance in Physics. ii) To establish the influence of Physics teachers in the students’ performance of Physics. iii) To investigate the effect of the school environment on students’ performance of Physics. The findings of the study would be useful to policy makers in the education sector to help put policies in place which may increase the performance of Physics in Kiambu Sub County. To guide the study, literature on student factors, teacher influences and school environment factors that influence the performance of Physics was reviewed. The study adopted descriptive survey design to collect data on factors that influence the performance of physics in public secondary schools in Kiambu Sub County. The study utilized a sample of one hundred and twenty students (120) as the respondents for this study. Data collected using questionnaires was analysed using SPSS computer program. The findings were summarized and reported in percentages and frequencies using distribution tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The study found that students were influenced in their performance in Physics through their career goals, their poor attitude towards Physics, their perception of Physics as difficult, and their gender. The study also found that teachers influenced the students’ performance in Physics through their missing of classes, poor relationship with students, and poor methods of teaching. The study finally found that school environment influenced the performance in Physics by the availability of laboratory equipment. The study concluded that students, teachers and school environment characteristics influenced the performance students in Physics in Kiambu sub-county. The study recommended that students should be encouraged and given opportunities to develop positive attitude towards Physics. Further the study recommended that the teachers should cultivate a good relationship with students to improve the students’ attitudes. Finally the study recommended that schools should ensure that their environment is favorable for Physics by establishing laboratories which are well equipped with learning materials for practical lessons. For further research the study recommended that another study be done to evaluate the influence of parents in the performance of Physics which was not a concern of this study.