Factors that lead to decline in academic performance in Kenya KCPE examination in Igembe North district Meru county, Kenya

Abstract

Education is the best legacy a nation can give to her citizen, especially the youth. This is because the development of any society depends much on quality of education of such a nation. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that lead to the decline in academic performance in the KCPE examination in lgembe North District, Meru County. The researcher was guided by five objectives and five matching research questions. The location of the study was Igembe North District, Meru County. The target population was all the primary schools in Igembe North District. The target population was 3,714 subjects. A number of primary schools constituted the unit of analysis. The sample size was 268 subjects which constituted the head teachers, teachers, pupils, and parents. The study used expost Jacto research design since the researcher examined an already existing situation in which changes have already taken place. Questionnaires, document analysis and interview schedules were used to collect the required data. The pilot study was done in three schools outside the district of the-study. The pilot test results were used to validate the instruments as well as assess the reliability of the instruments. Data was sorted out and then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 17). Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in data organization and presentation. Results were grouped according to the research objectives. Frequency tables, pie-charts and bar¬graphs were used to present the results. This study established that teachers were well trained and there existed further training opportunities for teachers to enhance and promote acquisition of new and relevant knowledge. Findings also revealed that there was understaffing, overcrowded classrooms and Jack of support by parents. In addition, the study revealed that there was so many pupils' per class which increased workload for teachers. Most of the times pupils absented themselves to participate in miraa (khat) harvesting and business. The culture had negative effect on education. The- researcher recommends that the government to increase allocation of funds, parents to be sensitized on education needs for their children and school administrators to improve on the pupil-teacher relationship. The researcher recommends further study on family structure in relation to education and how teacher quality affects pupils' academic achievement.