Publication: ctors influencing Kenya certificate of secondary Education examination performance in public mixed day Secondary schools in Sabatia sub-county, Kenya20
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2015-10
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination
(K.C.S.E) performance in Public Mixed Day secondary schools in Sabatia Sub-county of Vihiga.
K.C.S.E performance in Public Mixed Day secondary schools in Sabatia Sub-county of Vihiga
County has been poor. Poor KCSE performance affects selection and placement of students to
Technical/Vocational Institutes, Tertiary colleges and Universities. Specifically, the study sought
to identify school related factors that contribute to poor KCSE performance; analyze the effects
of parental education and occupation on quality of students’ academic performance and to
evaluate existing mechanisms used to monitor students’ performance. The study used the
Ecological systems theory as a basis to asses KCSE performance in Public Mixed Day secondary
schools. The study adopted a mixed research methodology approach. Both probability and non-
probability sampling techniques were employed to recruit respondents for the study. 384 students
were randomly selected from the schools. Key informants who included the Principals, Board of
Management members, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) members, Parents and Education
officers were selected purposively. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the
384 students and 75 Key Informants. The validity and reliability of the instruments was
determined by piloting of the instruments; an alpha Cronbanch threshold value of 0.7 was used to
ascertain validity and reliability of the instruments. Views of Key informants were also sampled
through a 10 item Likert-type Key informant guides and a one on one interview for Curriculum
supervisors. Quantitative data obtained from students and Key Informants was subjected to
descriptive survey analysis to obtain means, modes, frequencies and standard deviations using
the Statistical package for Social Scientists Program (SPSS) Version 22. Qualitative data was
analysed by content analysis techniques using themes from comments from answers obtained
during interviews. Analysed data has been presented in form of charts, tables and narratives. The
study established that the school based factors that lead to poor KCSE performance are related to
poor teacher commitment and lack of facilities; these factors include non-completion of syllabus
on time, failure by teachers attend all lessons (86%), failure by teachers to carry out
experiments/ practicals in science lessons (73.4%), and failure by teachers to demonstrate
during lessons (89%). The study also established that most parents have low levels of education and
are outside formal employment and this negatively affects the quality of education because of the limited
support parents can offer. The study also established that although Principals carry out routine monitoring
practices, such monitoring practices have some weaknesses. The study recommends that the
Government should fully fund secondary education to reduce the problem of school levies, lack of
textbooks and leave parents to fend for other basic needs such as food. Principals need to also carry out
more than routine monitoring to ensure that there is effective monitoring. Finally, the study
recommends further research to establish the best strategies to utilize the limited time available in the
day schools to improve performance in KCSE performance.
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Planning, Education