School Based Factors Influencing Students Enrolment and Performance in Physics at Olekasasi Secondary in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

This study presents details of the students’ physics class engagement in taking questions, reading and their attitudes with the view of establishing the student\s enrolment criteria and performance at Olekasasi Secondary School. Questionnaires, video recordings and interviews were used in gathering information for the research. Content is often given in advance to students for self-study before being taught through combinations of electronic course materials, textbooks and other web resources. Teachers are concerned mainly on the problems students encounter after having self-study of the materials as part of assignments. Data was organized into themes and analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0.). The findings of this research were analyzed as percentages of the responses. The study also determined the impact of learning based on inquiry within the STEM education while referring to science subjects (Physics and skills for problem solving that were attained using experimental and control group). Cluster sampling technique was used and each group consisted of 26 students and achievement test done aimed at assessing the impact scientific knowledge had on enrolment and performance in the subject. The research findings from the SPSS output indicated that learning based on inquiry in STEM education had a link between Physics as a subject, its performances and enrolment. It was concluded that the social, economic, cultural and psychological factors influenced the gender differences in line to achieve maximum enrolment and performance in Physics. In the sense that, there exist inequality of gender in choice of Physics subject and thus the question of ubiquity on the notion of male advantage in it. Also, its relation to local community’s female representative in STEM as teachers in secondary school, could have influenced on enrolment and performance hence recommend an increase of female role models.