Influence of provision of school physical infrastructure on students’ performance in Kenya certificate of secondary education in Mwingi central district, Kenya

Abstract

Education plays a key role in socializing an individual to fit and particpate adequately in development of the society. An educated population has been recognized as being more productive than one that is not, as the former is easier to train and work better than the later, and those educated are better off economically. The purpose of the study was establish the influence of physical infrastructure on the students’ performance of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in secondary schools in Mwingi Central district. The objectives of the study were: To establish how classrooms size in schools affected students academic performance, to determine how the provision of science labarotory affected students’ academic performance, to examine how school library services influenced students’ academic performance , to determine how type of of solid waste disposal affects students’ academic performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Mwingi Central District. This study used descriptive survey design. The target population of the study was all the 30 principals 238 teachers and 2400 students. The researcher used three sets of questionnaires, one for the principal, the other for the teachers and another for students. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and the results presented in frequency tables, pie charts, bar graphs and percentages to make meaningful conclusions. The study findings were that schools do not have adequate physical facilities. Such physical facilities includes classrooms, laboratories, library, desks and toilets which negatively impacts on their academinc performance. From the study findings that schools should be sensitized to acquire physical facilities that are important for the success of schools in academic performance. Among the ways of lobbying money may include sensitizing parents to pay school fees on time, holding harambees, writing proposals to well wishers and governmental programmes that deals with educational development e.g. CDF funds, LATIFF among other ways. Parents should also be sensitized to engage in programmes that are geared towards improving the schools physical facilities in order to improve the learning environment for academic excellence of their children. This can be done through participating in school income generating activities e.g. provision of market to school products and contributing towards development of the school programmes e.g. building of classes and other physical activities.