Constraints To Management Of School Curriculum: A Study Of Public Primary Schools In Loiyangalani District Of Marsabit County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations indicated consistent poor results between the years 2007-2012 in Loiyangalani district of Marsabit County, Kenya. To reverse this trend effective measures must be designed and implemented at all levels of curriculum management. This calls on all stakeholders in the educational sector and especially the curriculum managers in the area to step up efforts to achieve this. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the constraints to the management of school curriculum in public primary schools in Loiyangalani District of Marsabit County. The specific objectives were; to assess administrative and community factors that influence the management of school curriculum, pupils‟ performance, wastage and dropout, to analyse pupils-based factors affecting performance, to determine the effect of Standard Assessments in management of school curriculum on pupils‟ academic performance, to analyze curriculum intervention measures, and suggest appropriate and best remedy to improve management of school curriculum and pupils' academic performance. The study adopted a descriptive research design to generate information on management of school curriculum. The target population was drawn by simple random sampling from public primary schools: seven head teachers, 28 teachers, 140 pupils, 56 parents/guardians and three Quality Assurance and Standard Officers (QASOs). The study utilized three research instruments: questionnaires, interviews and observation schedules. The questionnaires were administered to head teachers, teachers, pupils and parents or guardians. The interview schedules were conducted on three QASOs. Observations of actual teaching and learning activities was done twice in each school during school sessions. The data was collected, coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data was subsequently presented in form of tables, charts and graphs. The study findings revealed that head teachers did not provide necessary support and assistance to both teachers and students. Teachers did not properly utilize pupils‟ time, teaching and learning materials, which significantly influenced pupils‟ performance as they were often either late or absent from school due to weak school policies. There was acute shortage of teachers in the area of study. Parents have vague understanding of what education encompasses. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education (MOE) should conduct regular in-service training for head teachers and teachers. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should post enough teachers to the district. The pupils should be able to access subsidized cost boarding facilities. MOE should increase and disburse without delay Free Primary Education (FPE) funds and School Feeding Program (SFP) consignments. Finally parents should be made aware of the importance and benefits of education by passing the Children‟s Act, 2001, which also prohibits early marriage of minors and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).