Influence of teachers' characteristics on students' performance in computer studies in secondary schools in Nairobi Province

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of teachers' characteristics on students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies with a view to suggesting ways of improving performance in Computer Studies. The objectives of the study were five namely: to determine if students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies was influenced by the level of education of Computer Studies teachers; to determine whether the Computer teachers' gender influenced students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies; to determine whether the teaching experience of Computer Studies teachers influenced students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies; to determine whether students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies was influenced by the level of training in Computer Studies attained by the Computer Studies teachers; and, to determine whether Computer Studies teachers' attitude towards Computer Studies influenced students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies. The study was guided by five null hypotheses derived from the objectives of the study. The study population comprised 35 Computer Studies teachers. Out of this population, 32 teachers were sampled for the study. The study used the questionnaire as the main research instrument. The instrument was piloted in schools that did not constitute the study sample and the reliability of the attitude scale was found to be 0.85. The questionnaires were personally administered by the researcher to the teachers. The ex-post-facto research design was used in the study. Data was analyzed using percentages, means and standard deviations. xv Hypotheses were tested using the chi square statistic and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The study found a weak relationship between the Computer Studies teachers' levels of education, training levels in Computer Studies, teaching experience and students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies. There was also a strong relationship between the Computer Studies teachers' attitudes towards Computer Studies and students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies and no relationship between teachers' gender and students' performance in Computer Studies. It was thus concluded that the Computer Studies teachers' levels of education, training levels in Computer Studies, teaching experience and attitude , towards Computer Studies influenced students' performance in KCSE Computer Studies. The study established that lack of computers, lack of standard textbooks, a wide and inconsistent syllabus, high computer operational costs, outdated programmes, high demand for the subject in junior classes and lack of enough time for practical lessons to be the major problems affecting the teaching of Computer Studies in public secondary schools. It was however established that the availability of computer technicians was not a problem in the schools since majority of the teachers were contented with the number that existed in their schools. The major suggestions for improving performance in Computer Studies as raised by the teachers included provision of adequate computers and computer

peripherals, periodic revision of the syllabus and publication of more Computer Studies textbooks. Further suggestions included the incorporation of multimedia in learning other subjects and identifying Computer Studies as a teaching subject in Teacher Training Institutions. Other major suggestions included the teaching a variety of programming languages, improving teaching methods, and, training more Computer Studies teachers at all levels ofteacher training. Some of the major recommendations of the study include the formulation of a policy aimed at encouraging more female teacher trainees to train in Computer Studies as a teaching subject. It is further recommended that the Government should train more Computer Studies teachers and retrain the existing ones through , refresher courses, seminars and workshops. The study further recommends that the computer Studies syllabus be periodically reviewed in order to incorporate the emerging issues in the teaching of the subject. Finally, the study recommends that further research be conducted on the effect of the attitudes of school administration and students towards Computer Studies on students' performance in Computer Studies in secondary schools in Kenya in order to fully address the issue of Computer Studies in secondary schools.