Attention Deficit Disorder and Pupils Educational Attainment. A Case Study of Homa Bay Town, Asego Zone- Kenya

ABSTRACT The major purpose of the study was to investigate the attention deficit disorder and its educational attainment in schools in Homa Bay Town, Asego zone. The following objectives were designed to guide this study: to determine the prevalence of the ADHD in children in public special and private schools in Homa Bay Town, Asego zone, to identify and establish the characteristics of ADHD children in both public, special needs school and private school; to identify the negative impact of ADHD on children education; to evaluate educational intervention strategies for the ADHD children in schools in Homa Bay town, Aseyo zone. Quantitative approach using questionnaires was used to collect data for the study. 140 assistant teachers, 66 Head Teachers from the 66 schools, 280 parents and 515 pupils took part in the study. The findings of the study revealed that most teachers, learners attracted with ADHD but their needs are not recognized/catered for. Many boys of age 1-13 years are affected by ADHD in schools than girls of the same age. The ADHD prevalence is high in rural schools than in urban schools. The difference that exist among these learners caused them to learn at different rates to succeed or fail in schools as teachers trained to handle them, neglect then and sees them as bothers. Findings revealed that most teachers understand learners who are gifted and challenged but their need are not recognized. The following recommendations were made after the study; teachers must plan to generalization (transfer of learning) of skills when they teach children with ADHD; teachers to assist ADHD children in developing memory strategies such as checklist of things to do before living the house, teachers must be sensitive to ADHD children needs for motivation in order to maximize students learning. ADHD children should be treated equally like any other normal children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................. ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .......................................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... v

LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... vii

ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. viii

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. ix

CHAPTER ONE .......................................................................................................................... I

1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................... I

1.1 Background of the study ............................................................................................ I

1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................................... 3

1.3 General of objective ...................................................................................................... 3

1.3.1Specific objectives ........................................................................................................... 3

1.4 Research questions ....................................................................................................... 4

1.5 Scope of the study ........................................................................................................ 4

1.6 Significance of the study ............................................................................................. 4

1. 7 Limitations of the study .............................................................................................. 5

1.8 Delimitation of the study ............................................................................................ 6

CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................................................... 7

LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 7

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................. 16

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................ 16

3.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 16

3.1 I~esearch Design ............................................................................................................... 16

3.2 Target Population ............................................................................................................ 16

3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Procedure ...................................................................... 18

3.4 Research Instrument ...................................................................................................... 22

3.5 Validity of instrument .................................................................................................... 23

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3. 6 Reliability of the instrument ........................................................................................ 24

3. 7 Data collection procedure ............................................................................................. 25

3 .8 Data analysis techniques .............................................................................................. 25

CHAPTER FOUR: ................................................................................................................... 27

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ............................... 27

4. 0 In traduction .................................................................................................................. 27

4.1 Background characteristics ..................................................................................... 27

4.2 Prevalence of ADHD among pupils in Homa bay Asego zone for the last

five years .................................................................................................................................... 28

4.3 Learning characteristics of ADHD in Homa Bay town, Asego zone ............ 29

4.3.1 Factors contributing to ADHD children dropping out from school.. ...... 30

4.3.2 Distribution of pupils in each school, each class suffering from

AD HD ......................................................................................................................................... 31

4.4 Negative impact of ADHD on children education ............................................. 32

4.5 Teachers attitude towards ADHD children in school in Homabay town,

As ego zone ................................................................................................................................. 3 3

CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................................... 34

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......... 34

5. 0 In traduction .................................................................................................................. 34

5. 1 Summary of findings .................................................................................................. 34

5. 2 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 3 5

5. 3 r~ecommendations ....................................................................................................... 36

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 37

APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................... 39

APPENDIX A: Questionnaires for Head/Teachers ...................................................................... 39

Appendix B: Questionnaire for teachers ......................................................................... 44