Factors influencing pupils' academic performance in K.C.P.E examination in Mutonguni division in Kitui district

Abstract

This study set out to investigate the factors influencing pupils' academic performance in the K.C.P.E Examination in Mutonguni Division in Kitui District. It involved all public primary day schools that had done K.C.P.E. examination for the years 2000-2003. The study sought to: i) establish whether a pupil's school time utilization affects his or her performance in the K.C.P.E Examination. ii) Investigate the effects of availability of human and material resources on pupil's performance in the K.C.P.E Examination. iii) Establish whether community involvement in school matters influences a pupil's performance. Stratified random sampling was used to obtain eleven (11) schools from the four zones in the division. The respondents included all the head teachers from the sampled schools, 20 class eight teachers and 99 class eight pupils, who were randomly selected. The necessary information was obtained through self-administered questionnaires and informal interviews. The data obtained was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods as well descriptive statistics. The findings of this study indicated that pupils' academic performance in K.C.P.E Examination was mainly influenced by; 1. Poor economic background/poverty, which made it difficult for the parents to provide the schools with adequate physical facilities and learning resources. 11. Heavy teachers' workload, which did not allow them enough time for adequate lesson preparations and revision before the examination. iii. Poor time utilization as a result of absenteeism and lack of seriousness among the pupils and some teachers as well as interruption of the learning process. IV. Low educational achievement by parents, which made them, uncooperative and ignorant of what went on in schools. In order to improve pupils' academic performance the study recommended; i) Improvement and upgrading of the economic status of the rural folk through rural electrification and provision of clean water which would promote self-employment. ii) Employment of more teachers, timely provision of teachingllearning resources and famine relief food to the stricken areas. iii) Schools' adoption of policies that would foster hard work, teamwork and cohesion among teachers, pupils and parents. iv) Launching of a campaign to enlighten on the expected contribution towards meaningful implementation of the 'free' primary education scheme so as to avoid controversy. The study identified the following areas for further research: 1. Research on performance in specific subjects; 11. Research on KCPE performance in other ASAL parts of the country; 111. Research on KCPE performance in an urban setting.