Effect of boarding facilities on perfomance of sciences subjects In K.C.S.E a case study of Mwatate Sub county-Taita Taveta county.

Abstract

The tenet of this study was that despite the critical role of sciences in promoting scientific and technological development, students‟ performance in those subjects was quite dismal. Factors leading to that dismal performance had not been adequately investigated and well - understood, hence hindering development of science education in the country. To this end, the purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing students‟ performance in sciences at KCSE level in selected secondary schools in Mwatate SubCounty. The study sampled schools using criteria of boarding, day and mixed status. All provincial schools in the Sub County were selected and then the six secondary schools were randomly sampled from twenty mixed schools. From the sampled schools at most twenty students were selected from each form four class but where the candidature was fewer than twenty. Saturated sampling was used and only one science teacher per school. Data was collected using questionnaires for students and teachers, and interview schedule for principals. Data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The frequency and percentages tables, and graphs. The results that were collected were fed into the computer and analyzed using SPSS. The tables were analyzed, recorded and conclusions as well as recommendations were made. The suggestions for further research were also be made. The study was meant to determine strategies in improving performance in sciences. The significance of the possible findings provided information to policy makers and relevant stakeholders on the need to avail resources for improvement of performance in sciences and the findings of the study contributed to the improvement on the use of resources to enhance good performance in sciences.