| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the process of implementing free primary education in public
primary schools in Ndhiwa Division of Homa Bay District. It sought to establish the
extent to which the programme is meeting its objective of access to education and
any obstacle and intervention that may be made to enable it succeed and the extent to
which these obstacles may affect quality and efficiency of education in public
primary schools.
The objectives of the study were:
1. To determine the extent to which staffing levels in public primary schools affect
the process of implementing free primary education.
2. To determine the extent to which availability, adequacy and conditions of
physical facilities in public primary schools affect the process of implementing
free primary education.
3. To assess the extent to which public primary school teachers are effective in
curriculum implementation following declaration of free primary education.
4. To investigate forms of indiscipline in public primary school among pupils 0 f
diverse socio-cultural background readmitted to schools that may affect process
of implementing free primary education.
5. To establish whether funds provided by the government are adequate to facilitate
the process of implementing free primary education.
6. To find out if there is wastage experienced by school despite free pnmary
education.
The study employed an ex-post-facto design as a method of study and the target
population consisted of the total number of teachers in Ndhiwa Division, which was
determined to be 310 teachers in 47 public primary schools in Ndhiwa Division.
A total of 24 headteachers and 96 teachers in 24 public primary schools were
randomly sampled to participate in the study making the sample size to be 120.
Questionnaire return rate realised was 83.3% of headteachers and 89.6% of teachers
who dully completed their questionnaires and returned them.
Data was gathered using two questionnaires for both the headteachers and teachers
and an observation guide administered by the researcher. The study used statistical
package for social sciences (SPSS) programme to speed up the data analysis. The
research data analysed showed that:
1. All schools had experienced increased enrolment as a result of declaration of free
primary education.
2. Headteachers and teachers had relevant academic and professional qualification
relevant for teaching in public primary school in the country.
3. Performance of schools in KCPE examination has improved from 2003 to 2005.
4. Shortages have been realised in physical facilities especially the classrooms and
shortage of teaching staff is great and this may hinder effective implementation
of FPE.
5. Teaching and learning facilities were observed to be tending towards adequacy.
6. Disbursement of funds to schools is inadequate and headteachers inexperience in
school financial management could affect smooth implementation process of free
primary education.
7. Dropout and repetition are still a problem in public primary schools despite free
education.
To improve implementation of free primary education and to ensure quality and
efficient education and make FPE meet its objectives, the following
recommendations were made:
1. Immediate employment and deployment of teachers.
2. Provision of physical facilities.
3. Improvement in disbursement of funds to schools, as headteachers are mserviced
in school financial accounting.
4. Exploitation of community initiatives in education.
5. Reduction of dropout and repetition cases.
6. Improvement be made on completion rates.
Suggestions for further studies included:
1. Replication of the same research study in other parts ofthe country.
2. Investigation of repetition and dropout phenomenon in public primary schools
and
3. Assess the impact of free primary education on the community. | en |
