The Effects Of Free Primary Education On Pupil Performance In Selected Schools In Sugoi Zone, Turbo Division, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in five selected primary schools which include; Seiyot primary, Cheramei, Chebarus, Sokyot and Leseru primary schools. The research looked at the effects of free primary education on the academic performance of pupils in Turbo Division, Uasin- Gishu West District Kenya. In an attempt to achieve the above, three objectives were developed. The objectives were; determining the level of free primary education, effects of free primary education on performance and investigating the factors driving to FPE poor performance. The first objective sought to investigate the performance levels of free primary education. The findings revealed that huge portions of the tax receipts to payment of debts affected the level of free primary education. "Without additional investments ... a quality education is difficult to achieve and dropout rates and illiteracy are likely to increase (GoK, 2005)". The second objective sought to investigate the effects of free primary education on performance and the findings revealed teachers and pupils supported the fact that over crowding in their schools has resulted to poor academic performance with 20 (100%) of teachers and 28 (93.3%) of pupils agreeing to that school facilities are not enough to accommodate high numbers of pupils in their schools.IS (75%) of the teachers agreed that there is a teacher ratio imbalance while 28(93.3%) pupils also agreed that there is an imbalance in the teacher-pupil ratio which caused poor performance. 20 (100%) of teacher respondents agreed with the fact that there are inadequate scholastic materials in their schools while 28 (93.3%) of their pupils agreed too that they lack enough scholastic materials. The drop out rate was high in the zone where Leseru primary school had a drop out percentage of 26, followed by Seiyot with 18.5, Sokyot had 7.3, Cheramei with 6.8 and lastly Cherabus with the lowest of 0.5. Monthly payments could not be met by the amount allocated from the government, and are not usually made in a timely manner. The school still lacks cement flooring in the classrooms, covered windows or enough furniture for the pupils. 72% of the respondents agreed with the statement that The parents of the pupils can not afford transport fairs for their children to come to school. Also 60% of the respondents agreed with the view that the parents don't buy food for the pupils in the school. More still another 60% were also of the view that the parents don't buy uniforms for the pupils in the school. Schools are understaffed and the teachers are poorly motivated and overworked which has led to teachers' deliberate neglect of their work. The teachers complained that there is a 1: 100 teacher students ratio in some schools in the zone.