Influence of School Environment on Academic Performance of Students in Secondary Schools: a Case of Huruma Ward, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Education is a lifelong process that involves sharing knowledge, inspiring a person's interests and curiosity, instilling positive attitudes and values, and developing crucial skills that will allow a person to influence their environment and realize their potential. The student will be able to function effectively in society thanks to their acquired skills. The basic purpose of a school is to teach and support students in acquiring knowledge and skills that affect their academic performance. Children in an adequate learning environment have been observed to exert more effort in their academic success. Academic success is crucial for creating graduates of the highest caliber. This study's objective was to determine the impact of the learning environment on students' academic performance at secondary schools in the Huruma ward of Nairobi County. The study concentrated on the effects of peer pressure, instructional resources, and class size on students' academic performance at secondary schools in the Huruma District of Nairobi County. The study used a descriptive research design. Teachers were among the survey's respondents. Primary information was gathered via a drop-and-pick questionnaire. The census method was applied. Descriptive statistics were employed in the study and were created using SPSS version 22. According to the study's findings, secondary school pupils perform better academically when their classes are smaller. They also showed that peer pressure and the instructional environment have a big impact on that achievement. Better school learning environments improve student academic performance, according to the study's findings. How effectively teachers perform and how well students perform academically are both greatly influenced by the school's infrastructure. The study's conclusion is that peer pressure has a positive and significant effect on students' academic performance in secondary schools in Huruma ward, Nairobi County. Peer groups affect learning and the characteristics that influence participation in most groups, including social and economic position and parental influence. According to the report, class sizes in public secondary schools need to be increased in order to boost academic achievement. Schools should make sure the classroom has enough space for the number of children they have. This will keep pupils engaged in class and boost their academic performance.