Factors influencing academic performance of students in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination: A case of Roysambu Constituency, Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

Academic performance in KCSE in almost all the subjects offered has been low in Roysambu County. However, the major factors contributing to this trend have not been clearly understood. This therefore limits the ability of educational stakeholders to improve the performance in KCSE. The purpose of this study is to investigate if home based factors, discipline, teaching approaches and learning resources influence students‟ performance in KCSE. Four research questions have been formulated to guide the study. The target population for this study therefore constituted about 750 (2013) form 4 students, 145 teachers. All the head teachers and Form Four class teachers of the sampled seven schools will be purposively included in the sample of respondents. The research used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Stratified sampling technique was used and data was collected using structured questionnaires. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data that was then presented in tables, bar charts and percentages. The findings shows that all the teaching approaches are employed and also the teaching facilities and resources are adequate for schools to accomplish their mandate. The home environment is also conducive for students‟ performance .Despite all that, discipline has been concluded to be a negative influence on performance. Recommendations drawn from the analyzed data are discipline should be improved, provision of in-service courses for principal and teacher on new teaching methods and parent sensitization on importance of education. Relevant educational players may adopt the findings of the study. The findings may also be used as a basis for further research with the aim of increasing performance of KCSE performance in Roysambu Constituency.