THE EFFECTS OF POOR PERFOMANCE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
(A CASE  STUDY OF MANDERA COUNTY, KENYA.)
BY
ABDIRASHID SAMOW HASSAN
BEDA/000513/112/07593
A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR
THE AWARD OF DEGREE IN BACHELORS OF EDUCATION ARTS IN THE
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY
DECEMBER 2014
ABSTRACT 
The importance of a National Examination cannot be underestimated in academic development, but
in Mandera Central District the pupils’ performance had been less than satisfactory. Why is it that
the  primary  schools  in  Mandera  Central  District  had  been  performing  poorly  in  KCPE?.  The
purpose  of  this  study  was  to  investigate  the  underlying  factors  for  the  poor  state  of  KCPE
performance. The objectives were to: determine the effectiveness of curriculum supervision and
implementation, identify the adequacy and management of physical and material resources, find out
the attitude of pupils towards learning, find out the attitude of teachers towards teaching, find out
the effectiveness of the supervision and quality control of schools, assess the interaction between
the schools and the community and seek views from the respondents on ways of improving KCPE
in schools. This study adapted the descriptive survey design. The population included the AEO,
head teachers, teachers and pupils. The study used both purposive and simple random sampling
designs. The sample size was composed of one AEO, 15head teachers, 10 teachers and 100 pupils.
Three  types  of  research  instruments  were  used  namely  Questionnaire,  Interview  schedule  and
observation schedules.  The content  validity  was tested.  Test-retest  method was used to  test  the
reliability of the instruments. Pilot study was done in two selected primary schools. The researcher
visited the  sample  schools  and administered  the questionnaires  to  the teachers  and pupils.  The
researcher conducted the interview at the Area Education Officer’s offices. The data was analyzed
by descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages).And it was presented inform of tables, graphs
and pie charts where necessary.