Influence of school resources on academic performance of public primary schools in Rabai sub county in Kilifi county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of school resources on performance of public primary schools in Kilifi County, Kenya. The study was guided by four specific objectives; to determine the influence of instructional resources on performance of public primary schools; to establish the influence of financial resources on performance of public primary schools; to find out the influence of infrastructural facilities on performance of public primary schools; to determine the influence guidance and counselling initiatives on performance of public primary schools in Rabai Sub County of Kilifi County, Kenya. The theory of education production served as the study's guide. A mixed method approach was adopted. Entailing a descriptive survey research design was used for the investigation. The target population was 505 respondents comprised of primary school teachers, head teachers as well as deputy head teachers. There are 47 public primary schools in the Rabai Sub-County. Since the number is large, 30% of the target population was selected for the study, resulting to 151 respondents. The research adopted a stratified random sampling with zones forming a stratum. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data, and secondary data from existing sources. To ensure reliability, this analysis employed the test-retest approach, in which two similar questionnaires were given to the same respondents two times and then comparing the results to achieve the reliability coefficient. The researcher also sought for specialists’ in this case the supervisor as well as professionals to scrutinize the instruments and gave their thoughts to validate the instruments. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics was used to examine quantitative data, which was then displayed in tables. Content analysis was useful in analyzing qualitative facts. This investigation permitted assemblage of facts into codes, summarizing these into groups and even organize definite data to compute occurrence of certain objectives. The investigation used the regression analysis to establish the association amidst the dependent and the independent variables. Additionally, inferential statistics, correlation as well as regression was prepared. To evaluate the study hypothesis, regression analysis was performed on the independent and dependent variables. The majority of respondents with a mean of 30.5% felt that instructional materials enhance academic performance in public primary schools in Rabai Sub-County. This was because it places a focus on performance, instructional materials enhance performance in schools. They posited out that the finest possible teaching and learning must be conducted using contemporary instructional facilities. The study established those infrastructural facilities has a positive and significant influence on academic performance (β=.658, p<.017). The investigator concluded that when teachers use appropriate tools, resources, and equipment to teach basic learning is facilitated and student accomplishment is improved. Since teachers are not the ones who accomplish any of the attributed qualities on their own, the worth of any accessible educational facilities depends on what the teacher creates of them. The researcher recommended that it is crucial for schools to make use of their financial resources and talents as well as abilities to support infrastructural developments in order to promote the wellbeing and goodwill of their pupils and other members. Sufficient resources and proficient management leadership are essential for the smooth operation of any educational establishment. Allocating resources and establishing goals, objectives, and priorities are key components of most financial management competencies. All school managers must possess the three primary financial competencies of cost management, budgeting, and budget management in order to effectively carry out their roles.