Factors contributing to students’ poor performance in Kenya certificate secondary education in Maragua Sub-county Kenya

Abstract

Secondary schools in Maragua Sub-county have been performing very poorly in KCSE. Hence purpose of the study was to identity factors which contribute to poor performance in KCSE in Maragua Sub-county. The study adopted a descriptive survey design; purposive sampling was used to select three secondary schools in the division, i.e., one girl’s secondary school and mixed day schools. Simple random sampling was used to select the teachers and students to be included in the sample. The researcher used interview to gather information from quality assurance and standard officer and questionnaires for head teachers, teachers and students. The reliability of the questionnaires was established through test-test methods. Data was coded and analyzed using the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS). The results of the findings are that: Maragua Sub-county suffers acute shortages of teachers, in most school there was inadequacy of physical, teaching and learning resources, subsequent absenteeism interferes with proper learning of students, there are only three DQASO officers in the whole Maragua Sub- county, indiscipline of students is high discipline , the rates of absenteeism among students have been high. Poor KCSE performances were due to lack of teaching and learning resources. Recommendations made are: reduce the absenteeism of students and teachers, teachers must complete syllabi in all subjects to improve on examination performances, improve on the discipline of students by strengthening the departments of guidance and counseling in schools and finally the government should improve the physical and teaching/learning resources in schools.