Availability And Utilization Of School Resources On Students’ Academic Achievement In Public Day Secondary Schools In Kisii County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The study intended to investigate the relationship between availability and utilization of school resources on students‟ academic achievement in Public day secondary schools in Kisii County, Kenya. The concern was why the decline in students‟ academic achievement in public day secondary schools in Kisii County when the government of Kenya is funding all public secondary schools through the Free Day Secondary Education(FDSE) program. The study was guided by the following objectives: To establish the level of availability and utilization of text books and its relationship to students‟ academic achievement in public day secondary schools in Kisii County, to establish the level of availability and utilization of laboratory equipment and how it relates to students‟ academic achievement in public day secondary schools in Kisii County, to establish the level of availability and utilization of library resources and its relationship on students‟ academic achievement in public day secondary schools in Kisii County and to establish the level of availability and utilization of classroom equipment and its relationship on students‟ academic achievement in public day secondary schools in Kisii County. The study was guided by the production function model of education. The study adopted a correlational research design which involved students and teachers from the 246 public day secondary schools in Kisii County. The target population was 24266 participants comprising of 21843 form four students and 2,423 teachers in public day secondary schools in Kisii County. The sample size of this study was selected using on-proportionate sampling, systematic random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Non-proportionate sampling technique was used to sample schools, systematic random sampling technique was used to sample students while teachers were sampled using purposive sampling technique. The Yamane simplified formula was used to calculate the sample size. The sample size was therefore 401 students and 25 teachers totaling to 426 subjects. Data collection was done by use of student questionnaire (SQ) and Teachers Interview Schedule (TIS). The data collected were both quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data were analyzed using inferential statistics, Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlational Coefficient analysis and multiple regression. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and were reported as direct quotations. Findings from the analyzed data were presented as tables, figures and graphs. The study found out that school resources needed for teaching and learning were available in public day secondary school in Kisii County. These resources ranged from recommended textbooks and set books, basic laboratory equipment, libraries resources and classroom equipment. Among the facilities that were not available in public day secondary schools were libraries. The study revealed that availability and utilization of textbooks, laboratory equipment, library resources and classroom equipment had a relationship with students‟ academic achievement. It was concluded that the relationship was statistically significant [F (4, 372) =39.203, R2=.297, sig.