An analysis of critical factors affecting academic performance in secondary education in Kenya a case of Narok north district

Abstract

The government has acknowledged that for development objectives to be realized, achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and realization of the Vision 2030, the citizens must be educated. Through the Ministry of Education provision of accessible and quality education has been prioritized. The study examined the critical factors affecting academic performance in secondary schools in Narok North District. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, five specific research objectives were addressed: to examine the extent to which syllabus coverage affects academic performance in secondary schools, to establish the extent to which school management and governance affect academic performance in secondary schools, to examine the contribution of school infrastructure to the academic performance in secondary schools, to ascertain the extent to which teacher motivation affects academic performance and to investigate the influence of parental participation in education in the academic performance in secondary schools. The data for this study was collected from primary and secondary sources. The research instruments were questionnaire, observation schedule and interviews schedule. The research design was validated by experts in the subject area including the supervisor. Descriptive survey research was used to get information. All the sixteen (16) secondary schools were selected to form the study sample. The findings of the study showed that majority of the students scored a C+ and below. Syllabus coverage in the schools was above average. On school management the study showed that the administration possessed managerial skills and that they were committed to the academic

matters of the schools. On the adequacy of infrastructural facilities, the finding indicted that most secondary school lack enough learning facilities which in tum have made the school perform poorly in academic achievement. It was established from the study that teachers were not well remunerated, worked in poor conditions, were not rewarded for their efforts and therefore were not motivated. Parental participation was lacking highly because of ignorance and illiteracy among the parents. It is therefore important to intervene to ensure that the syllabus is covered adequately and on time, schools are managed by competent and committed managers, there is adequate education support infrastructure, that teachers are motivated and supported to perform their duties well and finally that parents' are also brought on board to play their part ill ensuring that their learners are getting the quality education that they are paying for. It is only by intervening on the variables identified that the Narok North secondary Sc1100]S performance will improve.