Impact of Availability of Teaching and Learning Resources on Students’ Performance in Kcse Physics in Public Secondary Schools in Ndhiwa Sub-county, Homabay County, Kenya

Abstract

Education being a basic human right as well as a core production input in the economic development of any nation, it is a very important aspect of social-economic life that should be studied in depth. It therefore gives the explanation as to why nations globally plan and allocate financial resources in their respective budgets every fiscal year to meet programmes’ costs in education. However, there arises a concern when it comes to education quality being offered and the students’ performance in KCSE Physics. The reason for conducting this study was to find out the impact of TLR on students’ performance in KCSE Physics in Ndhiwa subcounty public schools (secondary) in Homabay county, Kenya. This research formulated six objectives to guide this study:

a) To find out the existence of library and adequacy of physics textbooks.

b) To determine the degree of utilization of Physics resources and its influence on the performance of students in KCSE Physics in public secondary schools in Ndhiwa subcounty.

c) To establish the presence of a science laboratory and adequacy of physics apparatus.

d) To find out how often the students conduct Physics practical under the watch of the teacher or laboratory technician.

e) To find out how often the students visit library to borrow Physics books for individual studies.

f) To find out which kinds of physics textbooks from different publishers or authors students prefer most.

The research study employed a type of research design (Descriptive Study Design). The data was gathered by using three giving out three categories of questionnaires for students, teachers of physics and principals. The targeted population comprised each and every public secondary school in Ndhiwa subcounty. Sample consisted of nine principals, eighteen physics teachers and ninety 2020 KCSE physics candidates. Data collected was analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The following methods of data presentation were used to present the analysed data; tables, bar graphs, percentages, means was then presented by use of tables, means, percentages, pie charts and bar graphs. This research also revealed that there were textbooks, chalk, erasers and charts with exception of inadequate human resource and physical facilities. ix

This led to overstretched resources with increased enrolment due to Government of Kenya’s a hundred percent transition policy from primary school to secondary school, thus, leading to compromised education quality due to pressure on scarce educational resources. The Kenyan government, education stakeholders, surrounding communities and development partners should pool funds to provide sufficient Teaching and learning resources in order to improve the condition and status physical resources and employ additional teachers to make schools more so the subcounty schools which purely operate on FDSE. Following the study findings, the research recommended that a similar research should be done in different regions of Kenya due to differences in attributes.