Institutional Factors Influencing Pupils’ Academic Performance at Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination Level in Public Schools in Mandera East Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish institutional factors influencing pupils’ academic performance at Kenya certificate of primary examination level in public schools in Mandera East Sub-County. Specifically, the study was set to establish the influence of availability of teaching and learning resources, influence of physical facilities, influence of teacher-pupil ratio and the influence of checking of teachers’ professional records by head teachers on pupils’ academic performance. The study was influenced by the fact that KCPE performance in Mandera East Sub-County is low compared to that of the neighboring sub counties. There were also limited researches done in Mandera East Sub-County on factors influencing pupils’ performance at KCPE. The design used was ex-post facto research design, the target population comprised of 27 head teachers in the public day primary schools in Mandera East Sub-County, 274 primary school teachers, 1821 class eight pupils and Sub-County Director of Education Mandera East Sub-County. The sample size consisted of 30 percent of head teachers target population and 10 percent of both teachers and pupils target population and Sub- County Director of Education Mandera East. The study adopted stratified sampling technique to select head teachers, teachers and pupils. Purposive sampling was used to select Sub-County Director. From the study it was established that; pupils’ performance is highly determined by the availability of teaching and learning resources, adequacy of physical facilities, teacher-pupil ratio as well as checking the teachers’ professional records by head teacher. The following were the conclusions of the study; availability of the teaching and learning resources greatly influenced pupils’ performance at KCPE since in most schools pupils shared books with one textbook shared among 3-4 pupils. Adequacy of physical facilities had an effect on pupils’ performance at KCPE since head teachers and teachers reported that none of the public primary schools had library and there are inadequacy of desks, latrines. Pupil teacher ratio had an impact at KCPE since there was problem of staffing and the few teachers were overworked hence no time for revisions. Checking of teachers’ professional records by the head teachers had no effect on pupils’ academic performance since head teachers checked on teachers’ professional records regularly. The study findings recommended that the headteacher and school committees assisted by the government should provide adequate teaching and learning resources which include textbooks, wall charts, chalk board, maps, and atlases. Parents should also together with school committees organize to raise funds for building and equipping libraries for better performance at K.C.P.E. QASO and the head teachers should inspect teachers in class to ensure that teaching methods are improved. T.S.C should employ more teachers to curb teachers’ shortages in the Sub-County