Influence of educational activities sponsored by non-governmental organizations on academic performance in public primary schools in Yala division,Siaya county,Kenya.

Abstract

In recent years, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have adopted active roles in social, cultural, economic and political areas as well as in the field of education due to the Government’s inability to provide sufficient education. Although NGOs have been supporting educational activities in public primary schools, it is not clear whether they influence academic performance in schools. It is based on this argument that the study aimed at assessing the influence of NGO educational activities on academic performance in public primary schools in Yala division. The objectives of this study were: To analyze the influence of NGO supported physical facilities on academic performance in public primary schools in Yala Division, Kenya: To examine the extent to which NGO capacity building influence academic performance: To assess the level at which NGO health and nutrition services to schools influence academic performance and the to determine the extent to which NGO scholarships’ influence academic performance . The study was guided by the human capital theory and a conceptual framework showing interrelatedness of various variables of the study. This study adopted a descriptive survey design and the subject for the study was 60 primary schools in Yala Division. A total of 45 public primary schools supported by NGOs in Yala Division participated in the study. Questionnaires were used as the primary instrument for data collection and they targeted 45 head teachers and 45 deputy head teachers in public primary schools and this gave a total of gave 90 respondents. Books, journals, newspapers and reports were used to obtain secondary data. Validity and reliability was done by piloting. Data was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using the statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) and presented in form of frequency tables and percentages tables’. The study found out that academic performance of pupils improved after partnership with the NGOs. The study also established that NGOs educational activities such as provision of physical facilities, teacher’s capacity building trainings, health services and scholarships influenced attendance, retention, teaching and learning environment and class assignments and tests. In conclusion, the study realized that NGOs educational activities influenced academic performance. The study recommends that NGOs need to invest more in physical facilities and capacity building ,incorporate head teachers and other stakeholders at all the stages of the project cycle and finally, efforts from NGOs and other organization that gives scholarships should be coordinated to avoid replication. The study recommends that the research study be replicated in other Divisions.