Factors Influencing Students Performance in Science Subjects at Secondary School Level in Kiharu Division Muranga District. Kenya.

ABSTRACT 

Science education has a critical role in promoting scientific and technological development. However students’ performance in these subjects remains quite dismal in many schools. Factors leading to this dismal performance have not been adequately investigated and well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing students’ performance in science subjects at Secondary School level in selected secondary schools in Kiharu Division, Murang’a District Kenya. The study explored four specific factors influencing performance in sciences namely, ratio of teachers to students, population of a class, social economic status of family and availability of learning/teaching materials. The study sampled schools using purposive sampling status and type of school. From the sampled schools, two thirds of the candidates were selected and all science teachers for the study, The principals of all the sampled schools where also included in the study. The Q.A.O, Murang’a district was similarly involved in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires for students, science teachers and principals. The researcher inte~iewed the Q.A.O, Murang’a District, Descriptive statistics was the main technique used to analyze data. The major findings were that; shortage of teachers, large classes, poverty and lack of adequate learning/teaching materials contributed to poor performance in sciences. Based on these findings, it was recommended that, the government of Kenya recmits enough science teachers; principals follow Ministry of Education guidelines when admitting students, government to initiate poverty eradication programmes and the scihools’ BOG. solicit for funds to equip schools with all necessary learning/teaching materials,

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS

LIST OF TAJSLES

LIST OF GRAPHS

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTiON

1.0 BACK GROUND OF T~ STUDY 1

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEK 2

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 3

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 4

1.5 STGN1FICANCE OF THE STUDY 4

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 5

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.0 INTRODUCTiON 6

METHODOLOGY ~ I

INTRODUCTION 11

3.1 DESIGNS AND LOCALE OF THE STUDY

3.2 SAMPLE SELECTION AND SIZE  I

3.4 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES 12

3.5 DATA ANAL~7S15 12

CHAPTER FOUR 13

PRESENTATiON AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 13

4.0 INTRODUCTiON .13

CHAPTER FIVE ~2I

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 21

5.0 Th~TRODUCT1ON 21

5.] SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 2]

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 23

5.3 SUGGESTiON FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 24

BIBLIOGRAPHY 25

APPENDIX A 26

APPENDIX B: 28

APPENDIX C 30

APPENDIX D~ 33

APPENDIXE

APPENDIX F 36