Influence of the SMASSE project on the performance of Chemistry in the Kenya certificate of secondary education examination in Kitui central sub county, Kitui county – Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of SMASSE project on the performance of chemistry in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Kitui central sub-County. The problem of the study was the persistent low performance in chemistry the Kenya certificate of secondary education in public secondary schools. The objectives of the study were to establish the influence of the SMASSE teaching methodologies on the performance of chemistry in Kitui central sub county, to establish the influence of monitoring and evaluation on the SMASSE project on the performance of chemistry in Kitui central sub county and to establish the influence of training of the SMASSE project on the performance of chemistry in Kitui central sub county .The target population of the study was chemistry teachers, principals, QASO and form three chemistry students in public secondary schools in Kitui central sub- County. A both purposive and random sampling technique was used to select a sample from the population. The research instruments comprised of self-administered questionnaires and interview schedule. To ensure validity, the instruments were reviewed by the supervisor and the amendments recommended effected before the main the study while the results of the pilot study were used to determine the reliability using the Split-Half technique. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and calculated means scores of Likert scale values. The analysed data was presented using frequency distribution tables .The study revealed that teaching methodologies has not changed despite introduction of the SMASSE project, principals and heads of departments rarely carry out monitoring and evaluation due the busy schedules and despite training on the use of ASEI-PDSI of the chemistry teachers do not prepare the ASEI lesson plans. Based on the research finding the researcher concluded that the goals of the SMASSE project have not been achieved in Kitui central sub county. The researcher recommended that the ministry of education science and technology should work in conjunction with CEMASTEA in research and capacity building of teachers, sensitization to be done to the administrators on their role in the monitoring and evaluation of the SMASSE project. This would help to improve the influence of the SMASSE project on the performance of chemistry.